WASHINGTON, May 16. /ITAR-TASS/. US senators have submitted a bill to the upper house of US Congress on banning contracts and agreements with the Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport. The “Russian Weapons Embargo Act of 2014” would end existing contracts with the Russian company and forbid new agreements.
Sponsors of the bill – US Senators Dan Coats (R-IN), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) – say the aim is to exert pressure on Russia over the latest developments in Ukraine. The bill also bans contracts with US and international companies that cooperate with Rosoboronexport.
US lawmakers have repeatedly called for stricter sanctions against the Russian company that they claim provides arms to Syria and Iran. US Senator Coats, who was put on the Russian blacklist of sanctioned US officials, said the measure against Rosoboronexport will harm Russian interests while having no negative effect on the US economy.