A group of Republican senators has introduced to the US Congress a bill providing for sanctions against Russia already at the current stage.

This is stated in a statement on the website of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, writes European Pravda.

It is noted that Senator Jim Risch led the majority of his Republican colleagues in introducing the bill to provide the important support Ukraine needs to defend and deter Russian aggression today, "placing a real cost on the Kremlin for its current and potential future aggression against Ukraine."

"While a 'military' invasion has not yet occurred, there are other ways in which Russia could attack Ukraine that would be debilitating for Ukrainians and European security as a whole," Risch said.

The document, in particular, demands an immediate halt to the construction of the Nord Stream-2 project and provides for sanctions against the project in case Russia invades. It also proposes sanctions against major banks as well as the entourage of the Russian president.

The bill provides $500 million for foreign military financing (FMF) for Ukraine, including $250 million for emergency aid, with $100 million for emergency lethal weapons.

Creates a new "Resistance Fund" to help Ukraine resist attempts by Russia to occupy or subdue any new territory, while sending Putin a clear message that his military will pay the price for advancing into sovereign Ukrainian territory.

The document also creates a new lend-lease authority for Ukraine and expedites congressional consideration of arms sales and security assistance to Ukraine.

As a reminder, U.S. President Joe Biden repeated his warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the massive consequences that Russia would have to face in case of a new aggression against Ukraine.