The document is called the Deterrence of Authoritarian Warfare Act of 2022. It suggests the introduction of personal sanctions against President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu and other representatives of the country's leadership in in the event of an invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine.
“President [US Joe] Biden doesn’t seem to understand that America needs to show strength and resolve, not weakness. I urge my Senate colleagues to work with me to pass this bill before it's too late — Rubio said in a statement.
In addition, the document provides for the introduction of a ban on transactions with Russian companies in energy, financial, mining and aerospace sectors, and imposes sanctions against the SWIFT international interbank system if it does stop providing services to Russian banks and ;companies subject to sanctions. In a separate paragraph, Rubio mentioned sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
Earlier, a similar package of sanctions was proposed by Democratic senators led by Robert Mendez. Their project involved the imposition of sanctions against the President of the Russian Federation, the Prime Minister, the heads of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces and other representatives of the military leadership. In addition, restrictive measures may also affect Nord Stream 2.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, in turn, noted that US military assistance to Ukraine and the draft package of new US sanctions against the Russian Federation continue the destructive line of Washington to support the Kiev authorities. She also pointed to an "increasingly anti-Russian stance" The EU and unwillingness of the EU to help in resolving the intra-Ukrainian crisis.