(Adds more details on energy sanctions in paragraphs 6-8,background on Russia sanctions)
By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican andDemocratic senators on Wednesday will introduce a bill thatwould impose sanctions on Russia's banking and energy sectorsand foreign debt for Moscow's meddling in U.S. elections andaggression against Ukraine.
It will be introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Grahamand Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, and is a tougher version ofthe one the two lawmakers backed last year but which failed topass, Menendez's office said.
The bill, which was seen by Reuters, may have a betterchance of passing Congress now, either as a whole or asamendments to other bills, in the face of growing bipartisananger over Russia's interference in other countries' affairs.
President Donald Trump, who has gone along with previouscongressional efforts to increase sanctions on Russia, thoughsometimes reluctantly, would still have to sign the bill beforeit become law.
Targets of the sanctions would include: Russian banks thatsupport efforts to interfere in foreign elections; the country'scyber sector, new sovereign debt; and individuals deemed to"facilitate illicit and corrupt activities, directly orindirectly, on behalf of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin."
The bill also would impose several strict new measures onRussia's oil and gas sector, which makes up about 40 percent ofthe Russian government's revenues, including sanctioning peoplewho provide goods, services or financing to support thedevelopment of crude oil in the country.
Russian state-owned energy projects outside of Russiaincluding investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG) projectsalso would face sanctions.
Global energy companies including BP, Shelland ENI are likely to oppose the bill as are U.S. basedcompanies including Exxon and Chevron. BP ownsnearly 20 percent in Rosneft, Russia's largest oil producer.
MUELLER PROBE
Members of Congress, including many of Trump's fellowRepublicans, have pushed the president to act more forcefullyagainst Moscow during his presidency, which has been shadowed byRussia-related probes.
U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating Russianmeddling in the 2016 U.S. election and Moscow's possiblecollusion with the Trump campaign. Russia has denied interferingin the election and Trump has called the probe a witch hunt.
The Senate, where Republicans have a majority, narrowlyfailed last month to pass a resolution disapproving of Trump'seasing of sanctions on Russian companies tied to Russianoligarch Oleg Deripaska. Supporters of the effort vowed to tryagain.
Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee, said Congress wanted action to respond to thehumanitarian disaster in Syria, where Russia backs PresidentBashar al-Assad, Moscow's aggression in Ukraine "and the steadyerosion of international norms."
"One thing is increasingly clear: Moscow will continue topush until it meets genuine resistance," Menendez told Reuters.
Graham, a leading Republican congressional foreign policyvoice, is a Trump ally who called last year's legislation "thesanctions bill from hell." He said he was determined to send astrong message to Moscow.
"Our goal is to change the status quo and impose meaningfulsanctions and measures against Putin's Russia," Graham said in astatement emailed to Reuters. "He should cease and desistmeddling in the U.S. electoral process, halt cyberattacks onAmerican infrastructure, remove Russia from Ukraine, and stopefforts to create chaos in Syria."(Reporting by Patricia ZengerleAdditional reporting by Timothy GardnerEditing by Paul Simao)
