On Thursday, the Senate passed legislation to impose additional sanctions on Russia. The bill passed by an overwhelming majority, 98-2, with only Senator Rand Paul and Senator Bernie Sanders voting against it.
In addition to the Russian sanctions, Iran sanctions, and the requirement that Congress review any effort by the Trump administration to loosen sanctions against Russia, the bill also includes a reassertion of the United States’ commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Article 5 charter provision that states that an attack on one member of NATO is considered an attack on all members.
The bill will now go to the House of Representatives, where the fate of the bill is less certain. Although the White House has signaled that it wants to improve relations with Russia, it has not yet said whether President Trump would sign the bill into law.