WASHINGTON DC – US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on Tuesday urged Washington to take a more aggressive stance against Russia, arguing that the US and its allies have both the tools and the responsibility to crack down on Moscow’s sanction-evasion tactics.
Speaking at a Brookings Institution event, Whitehouse didn’t mince words: “If they can seize a Venezuelan oil tanker, why not seize a Russian one?”
He highlighted the Senate’s broad, bipartisan backing for Ukraine, emphasizing the work of the Ukraine Victory Caucus–a coalition he co-founded with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
Formed during the “days of woe and gloom and doom,” the group championed Kyiv at a time few in Washington were willing to openly discuss a Ukrainian victory.
“This is a point that needs to be made,” Whitehouse said. “Can you do well by invading peaceful neighbors? If you can, don’t think the Chinese won’t be watching.”
He framed Ukraine’s success as not just a regional matter but a global test of the international order.
Sanctions Enforcement: From Frozen Assets to Shadow Fleet
Turning to sanctions, Whitehouse stressed that their effectiveness hinges on “dynamic and aggressive” enforcement.
He highlighted the challenges of deploying frozen Russian assets held in Europe, suggesting a measured, phased release to maximize pressure on Moscow while minimizing legal risk.
Whitehouse also called out Russia’s shadow fleet–tankers moving oil in defiance of sanctions–and urged tighter scrutiny and disruption.
“I bet you can find a lot more illegitimacy around some of the Russian shadow fleet tankers than around the Venezuelan tanker,” he said, citing groups like SkyTruth and Windward that track illicit shipping operations.
Legislative Action and Global Signaling
Whitehouse touted the upcoming Senate vote on the National Defense Authorization Act as a “very strong statement” in support of Ukraine.
The legislation includes funding for NATO, Ukrainian defense, and the Baltic security package, he said, contrasting it with the Trump administration’s prior security guidance.
He also pointed to ongoing efforts to push an enhanced sanctions package, including designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism in response to the kidnapping of Ukrainian children–a measure with bipartisan Senate support.
For Whitehouse, the sanctions debate is about more than economics–it’s about precedent and principle.
“Ukraine, having a victory here, matters not just for Ukraine, not just for Europe, but for the world and for humankind,” he said, adding, “The example of Russia being able to seize foreign territory against every treaty, and succeed at that because the rest of the world said that’s fine, is a lesson that will echo shamefully in history’s hallways. We do not want to be part of that.”
In classic Washington fashion, Whitehouse concluded with a reminder that the next moves in sanctions enforcement won’t just signal US resolve–they will broadcast to every corner of the globe whether rule-breaking powers still face consequences.