WASHINGTON, DC – After the Trump Administration reversed course and announced Monday that no new sanctions against Russia were immediately forthcoming - just one day after U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley publicly stated that the United States would punish Russian companies tied to Syria’s chemical weapons program with new sanctions - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:

“It’s unclear why President Trump halted his Administration’s plan to impose additional sanctions on Russia.  He declared the military mission accomplished, but seems unwilling to back up a tactical strike with tough, sustained diplomatic action to deter Russian assistance to Syria’s chemical weapons program.  The American people are right to wonder: why won’t President Trump try to stop Russian corporations from partnering with and providing lethal chemical assistance to the brutal Assad regime?

“If the President is willing to use America’s military might, he should also be willing to leverage American economic and diplomatic power.  His failure to lead on these fronts is hard to square with the reality of Russia’s behavior.”

“The botched sanctions rollout is deeply concerning because it projects the appearance of either gross incompetence or an Administration in disarray.  This White House does not seem to be effectively communicating internally, and is sending mixed signals to both our allies and adversaries about President Trump’s commitment - or apparent lack thereof - to holding Russia accountable for their role in these atrocities.

“Russia continues to obfuscate and impede international efforts to investigate the horrific chemical attack in Douma.  Additional sanctions in connection with Assad’s chemical weapons program are an appropriate step that should be swiftly taken to penalize Assad’s chemical weapons suppliers and raise the cost for Russia’s continued efforts to hide the truth of this tragedy.  Such a calibrated use of sanctions should be a central part of a strategy for preventing future chemical weapons use. 

“I urge the Trump Administration to immediately impose targeted sanctions on Russian companies providing the Assad regime with material for chemical weapons.”