Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon would be barred from entering into any contract with a Russian state arms dealer under a provision of the $1.1 trillion spending bill.
The sweeping package includes a prohibition on Defense Department dealings with Rosoboronexport or any of its subsidiaries until Russia has withdrawn from the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine or the company has stopped transferring lethal military equipment to the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas has pushed for the provision that enjoys strong bipartisan support. Democratic Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia also has targeted purchases from the arms dealer.
The United States has purchased helicopters from the state-owned arms dealer for the Afghan air force.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
