17 Oct 2026
U.S. Congress Aims To Label Russia ‘Aggressor State’
U.S. Congress will reportedly attempt to push through a measure declaring Russia as an "aggressor state" this week, in light of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington today, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.
The designation, if passed, would provide the White House new sanctions authorities to target Russian officials; albeit Ideally, Zelenskyy and Ukrainian leadership would like the U.S. to declare Russia a state sponsor of terror, similar to what the European Parliament did in November.
The Biden administration has been reluctant to label Russia as a state sponsor of terror because it would handcuff the administration on its efforts to end the war, while it would also hamper civil society organization's ability to provide humanitarian assistance, including inside Ukraine.
In the meantime, the State Department said on Tuesday that it's working with Congress on "a potential alternative that would allow us to continue to increase the costs on the Kremlin and those who are responsible for Russia's war against Ukraine without some of the unintended consequences that the state sponsor of terrorism, the state sponsor designation might bring," as Department spokesman Ned Price put it during a press briefing in response to TURAN's questions.
An estimated 50,000 alleged Russian war crimes have been documented by Ukrainian officials.
Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.
Latest news
Latest newsBulgaria Asks NATO to Strengthen Its Defences Amid Black Sea Threats: Sofia Fears Growing Risks to Maritime Shipping
16.Oct.2026
Black Sea Shipping Risks Threaten Bulgaria’s 5 Million Tonnes of Wheat Exports
15.Oct.2026
Georgia’s Foreign Funding and Political Ban Laws Draw Criticism from the Venice Commission
15.Oct.2026
Kazakhstan Promotes a Caspian Green Energy Corridor: Astana Seeks New Routes to the European Market
14.Oct.2026
Inflation in Romania Accelerates to 6.61%: Rising Prices Increase Pressure on Households and the Economy
13.Oct.2026
Can Europe Protect the International Criminal Court from Trump’s Sanctions?
13.Oct.2026
Georgia’s Constitutional Court Continues Case on Banning Opposition Parties: Political Pluralism at Stake
12.Oct.2026
Azerbaijan and Iran Step Up Security Contacts Amid Hijab Protests
12.Oct.2026
Personnel Shortages Complicate Ukrainian Forces’ Rotation: Ukraine Faces Long-Term Challenges on the Front Line
11.Oct.2026
Trump Eases Sanctions on Russian Fuel After Talks with Putin: Kyiv Fears Boost to Moscow’s War Revenues
10.Oct.2026
Putin Seeks to Strengthen Russia’s Influence in the Post-Soviet Space Through the CIS
10.Oct.2026
Russia and the South Caucasus: External Pressure, Political Competition and a Crisis of Trust
10.Oct.2026
Peaceful Settlement Between Armenia and Azerbaijan: Moving from Declarations to Implementation
10.Oct.2026
Moldova Ready to Accept as Many Ukrainians as Necessary if Situation Worsens This Winter
09.Oct.2026
Turkmenistan Turns Avaza into a Regional Diplomatic Hub as Caspian, Central Asian and CIS Agendas Converge
08.Oct.2026