![handle is hein.crs/govejrl0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service
Informing the logis itive debate since 1914
December 9, 2022
Russia's War on Ukraine: U.S. Policy and the Role of Congress
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a new undeclared
war against Ukraine, a country Russia first invaded in 2014
and has partially occupied for more than eight years. The
war is Europe's largest armed conflict in decades. Ukraine
has successfully waged defensive and counteroffensive
operations bolstered by extensive military assistance,
chiefly from the United States and Europe. Still, Russia
occupies more than 15% of Ukraine's territory and has
intensified its attacks on infrastructure nationwide. The war
to date is estimated to have led to the deaths of tens of
thousands and the forcible displacement of more than 14
million people.
Many observers view the Russia-Ukraine war in the context
of Russian President Vladimir Putin's increasingly
authoritarian rule, rising neo-imperialism and nationalism,
and belief that Ukraine's pro-Western democratic trajectory
could undermine his own rule and model of development
for Russia. The war follows a number of malign Russian
activities abroad, including the 2008 invasion of Georgia,
2014 invasion of Ukraine, 2015 intervention in Syria, 2016
interference in U.S. elections, use of chemical weapons
targeting regime opponents, and the deployment of
mercenaries in conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.
The General Assembly ... reaffirms its commitment
to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial
integrity of Ukraine [and] declares that the unlawful
actions of the Russian Federation ... have no validity
under international law.
U.N. General Assembly Resolution ES-I 1/4, Oct. 12, 2022
The United States, member states of NATO and the
European Union (EU), and other partners regard Russia's
war against Ukraine as unprovoked and unjustified. The
United States, the EU, and the United Kingdom (UK),
among others, have coordinated efforts to impose a series of
increasingly more severe sanctions on Russia. They also
have provided substantial military and economic aid to
Ukraine. To deter further Russian aggression, the United
States and NATO also have increased their military
presence in Central and Eastern Europe. Congress may
consider additional actions and oversight with respect to
these and related issues.
Sanctions on Russia
The United States, the EU, other countries in Europe
(including the UK, Norway, and Switzerland), Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, among
others, have responded to Russia's war on Ukraine with
sweeping sanctions. These sanctions expand upon and
greatly exceed measures the United States, the EU, and
others previously imposed on Russia in response to
Moscow's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, interference in 2016
U.S. elections, and other malign activities.
U.S. sanctions since February 2022 include restricting the
Russian central bank from drawing on its dollar-
denominated reserves, prohibiting most major Russian
banks from conducting transactions in U.S. dollars or with
U.S. persons, and barring new U.S. investment in Russia.
The United States also has expanded export controls
affecting Russia's access to sensitive or needed U.S.-origin
technologies, banned the import of certain goods from
Russia, and prohibited Russian use of U.S. airspace and
ports. The United States has imposed economic sanctions
on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities and banned
entry into the United States for thousands of Russian
officials and military personnel.
In addition to actions taken by the executive branch, the
117th Congress suspended normal trade relations with
Russia and its ally Belarus (P.L. 117-110) and prohibited
the import to the United States of Russian oil and other
energy products (P.L. 117-109).
The United States and the EU have closely cooperated in
imposing sanctions on Russia, and many EU and other
international sanctions are identical or similar to U.S.
sanctions. Although the EU has not imposed sanctions on
Russian natural gas imports, Russia itself has substantially
reduced natural gas flows to Europe and the EU is working
to end its dependency on Russian energy imports.
By some metrics, Russia has weathered new sanctions
better than many anticipated. Although initial forecasts
suggested Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) would
decline by as much as 15% in 2022, in October the
International Monetary Fund forecast a more modest
contraction of 3%. Russia's oil exports to non-U.S.
destinations, largely exempt from sanctions until December
5, 2022, have been an important source of Russian
government revenues.
Sanctions have created challenges for Russia, however.
Russia's financial sector reportedly faces losses of hundreds
of billions of dollars; Russia reportedly is having
difficulties procuring key components for its military; many
factories have suspended production because they cannot
access foreign-origin parts; hundreds of international
companies have exited the Russian market; and Russian oil
is selling below market prices. The expansion of EU and
G7 oil sector sanctions in December 2022 could create
additional economic challenges for Russia.
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