STOP China and Russia: how three US Senate bills raise the price of Russian aggression against Ukraine
22 October 22:35
On October 22, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a number of important bills for Ukraine related to Russia’s military aggression. This was announced by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna on her Telegram channel, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
These are the following draft laws:
- S.2805 on declaring Russia a state sponsor of terrorism in the event that Russia fails to return more than 19,000 Ukrainian children;
- S.2918 on the implementation of the REPO law on the confiscation of frozen assets of the Russian Federation and their transfer to the needs of Ukraine;
- S.2657 STOP China and Russia Act of 2025, which should prevent China from supporting Russia’s war.
What does S.2805 contain?
Draft law S.2805 in the U.S. Senate (119th convocation) proposes to recognize the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The document was introduced to the Senate on September 15, 2025 by Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, Kay Britt, and Amy Klobuchar. On September 16, it passed the second reading.
The bill, briefly titled the Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act, is based on a number of congressional statements.
In particular, it states that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine deliberately targets civilians, including children. Indeed, according to Ukrainian authorities, since February 2022, Russians have killed at least 648 and injured at least 2047 children. The illegal transfer of at least 19,546 Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation, the occupied territories, and other places is also noted. The age of the victims of Moscow’s armed aggression ranges from several months to 17 years.
The text also refers to the Russification of Ukrainian children through deportations, “re-education camps,” and youth paramilitary structures, which, according to the authors, falls under the definition of international terrorism under US law.
The mechanism in the draft law is two-stage. Within 60 days of the law’s entry into force, the Secretary of State must report to Congress, confirming two facts
- that the removed/abducted Ukrainian children have been safely reunited with their families or guardians;
- that their full reintegration into Ukrainian society has begun.
If such confirmation cannot be provided, the State Department is obliged to immediately add Russia to the list of state sponsors of terrorism based on existing regulations (including Section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act and Section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act).
The reverse procedure is also prescribed: 45 days after a separate certification by the State Department that the Russian Federation has not supported international terrorism in the past three months, has given guarantees of renouncing such support, all children have been returned and their reintegration is ongoing, the listing may be canceled.
The rationale also mentions the episode of the June 2025 talks in Istanbul, where the Ukrainian side handed over a list of 339 children for return, and the Russian delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky rejected the request, calling Russia’s actions “rescuing” the children.
The general conclusion of the draft law is that the United States has tools to hold Russia accountable, and the recognition of terrorist sponsorship will be applied to Russia if it does not change the situation with Ukrainian children.
Draft law S.2918: what is this document and at what stage is it now?
The draft law provides for the transfer of all frozen Russian sovereign assets in the amount of approximately $5 billion. The draft law provides for the transfer of all frozen Russian sovereign assets of approximately USD 5 billion under the jurisdiction of the United States to an interest-bearing account.
The bill was initiated by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Jim Risch, Jeanne Shaheen, Chuck Grassley, Richard Blumenthal, and Lindsey Graham. The document was submitted on September 19, 2025. As of now, it has already been referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
The goal is to improve the implementation of the current REPO Act (Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act), which provides legal grounds for the seizure (repurposing) of Russian sovereign assets in favor of Ukraine.
The bill formally refers to the international consensus: the preamble of the REPO Act. It states that all EU members, including Belgium, and all but one of the G7 states are members of the OSCE.
on July 3, 2025, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly unanimously adopted the Porto Declaration, which “calls on OSCE participating States to unblock the full value of about $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets . The draft law changes the status of the Ukrainian state and changes the status of the Ukrainian government in the EU.
The draft law also changes the status of assets in the legal architecture of the REPO Act. While previously it was primarily about confiscation and transfer of seized assets to a special fund (Ukraine Support Fund), it is now proposed to allow the president to transfer assets that have not yet been confiscated to this fund for the sole purpose of placing them on an interest-bearing account. This makes it possible to start accruing income on “immobilized” funds even before the final legal decisions on confiscation.
The draft law directly obliges the US Treasury to invest the free balance of the fund in US revenue-generating obligations or instruments guaranteed by the US government for principal and interest. The accrued interest and proceeds from the sale of such securities are credited back to the fund, increasing the resource for Ukraine. The President must ensure that this mechanism is launched no later than 45 days after the law comes into force.
To ensure that the funds do not “sit idle,” the draft law introduces quarterly commitments: at least $250 million every 90 days from the fund must be used to help Ukraine. If the fund balance is less than $250 million, the State Department can transfer the entire balance.
Section 109 – “Engagement with Foreign Countries” – is introduced as a separate section. It provides for two reports by the president to Congress:
- within 90 days – on the “covered countries” (Australia, all G7 members and the EU, except the United States): the amount of Russian sovereign assets in each country, their status (frozen/blocked/unmotivated) and whether interest is accrued;
- within 270 days, a similar report on other countries not included in the list of “covered countries”.
The reports are submitted in an open format with the possibility of a closed annex. At the same time, the State Department (in coordination with the US Treasury) must begin systematic diplomatic consultations with the governments of the “covered countries” within 30 days, insisting that they reprofile at least 5% of Russian sovereign assets under their jurisdiction in favor of Ukraine on a quarterly basis.
In practical terms, S. 2918 has three effects:
1. Temporal: the funds cease to be “stagnant” – they are either confiscated or at least transferred to a revenue-generating regime, generating interest.
2. Financial: the instrument of quarterly transfers minimizes pauses between the accumulation in the fund and the actual receipt of resources by Ukraine.
3. International: The United States formalizes diplomatic pressure on partners in the EU, G7, and Australia to systematically and regularly reprofile assets. The reference to the OSCE PA Porto Declaration adds weight to the political rationale.
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STOP China and Russia Act of 2025: sanctions against China’s support for Russian defense
The bill S.2657 Severing Technology Transfer Operations and Partnerships between China and Russia Act of 2025 (STOP China and Russia Act of 2025) was introduced in the US Senate. The initiators are Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator John Cornyn. The document was registered on August 1, 2025, passed two readings, and was sent to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
The draft officially states that a number of Chinese companies and intermediaries supply Russia with goods and technologies critical to the country’s defense industrial base (DIB), despite previous US sanctions. And it is China’s support that allows Russia to continue its war against Ukraine. In response, the United States has vowed to cut off financing and arms exports from China to Russia and coordinate its countermeasures with its allies.
Within 90 days of its entry into force, the US President is obliged to impose restrictions on foreign persons who:
- are “PRC persons” or are controlled by “PRC persons”
- knowingly sell, provide, or facilitate the supply of goods or services to the Russian Armed Forces or the Russian Defense Ministry.
The list of sensitive items includes:
- cNC machines and related services;
- lubricating additives;
- nitrocellulose/wood pulp;
- components for the production of gunpowder and explosives;
- fiber optic cables for military use and technologies for their production;
- advanced sensors.
The document provides for a number of restrictions, including
- blocking of assets and prohibition of any transactions with property in the US jurisdiction (based on IEEPA)
- visa bans and revocation of existing visas for the foreigners involved.
In addition, the document lays down implementation mechanisms (regulations, licenses, orders) and fines for violations. There are exceptions for U.S. intelligence and law enforcement activities, international obligations (the UN Headquarters Agreement, the Vienna Convention), and a separate note: these sanctions do not apply to imports of goods into the United States. The President may exempt individuals from sanctions for 90 days (with extensions) if it is in the interests of the United States.
The draft law also refers to China’s large defense groups. No later than 90 days after the adoption of the law, the president must determine whether such Chinese corporations are engaged in the supply of weapons/components to the Russian Federation or goods from the “sensitive” list.
This applies to the following companies:
- China North Industries Group,
- AVIC,
- CETC,
- China South Industries Group,
- CASIC,
- China General Nuclear,
- CNNC,
- China State Shipbuilding.
If the results of the investigation confirm the fact of cooperation with Russia in the field of “defense,” they will be subject to blocking sanctions and visa restrictions.
S. 2657 creates a tough framework against Chinese supplies that fuel Russia’s defense: it adds mandatory personal sanctions for “sensitive” supplies, restricts China’s largest defense corporations, and forces the US executive branch to coordinate regularly with allies. The goal is to systematically raise the price for any technological and financial channels between China and the Russian military machine.
Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Olga Stefanishyna noted that all three bills are scheduled to be considered in the Senate in the near future in accordance with the schedule set by Republican Party leader John Thune.
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