WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, released the following statement regarding a new round of Russian sanctions announced by the Administration today:

I strongly support the Administration’s decision to impose sanctions on key Russian industrial firms in the financial services, energy and arms sectors, including Rosneft, Gazprombank, and Vnesheconombank. The President was right to make every effort to move jointly with the Europeans but the United States should move forward unilaterally if necessary to impose sanctions on key Russian industries. Until Moscow halts the flow of weapons and fighters across their border, the United States and our partners should continue to ratchet up sanctions, making it clear that this aggression will not be tolerated. 

While today’s announcement sends a strong signal, the fact this new round of sanctions excludes Rosoboronexport, Russia’s arms export agency that supplies the regimes in Syria and Iran, is a missed opportunity.  I have long called for the United States to end its business relationship with this agency, and will continue to do so.