A group of eight Republican senators has written a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to pursue a “results-oriented” and “principled” Russia policy that would highlight the country’s activities in cyberspace, Syria and Ukraine.Sens. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Cory Gardner (R-Colorado), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) jointly urged the Trump administration to maintain the current sanctions regime against Russia and Russian organizations, Rounds’ office said Thursday.
The lawmakers also called on the White House to condemn continued Russian aggression in Ukraine as well as counter Russia’s cyber and information warfare efforts against western democracies such as the attempted interference in the U.S. democratic elections process.
They said the U.S. should maintain an open dialogue with Russia on global initiatives related to nuclear arms control, anti-drug trafficking , counterterrorism and healthcare promotion.
“However, while we should seek common ground with Russia in the areas of mutual interest, we must never pursue cooperation with Russia at the expense of our fundamental interests of defending our allies and promoting our values,” the letter states.
