Blinken says U.S. won't rule out labeling Russia a state sponsor of terrorism

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Department of State would not rule out designating Russia a state sponsor of terrorism for its accused atrocities in Ukraine.

According to CNN, in an angry line of questioning at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on China on May 16, Sen. Lindsey Graham asked Blinken: "You're never going to designate Russian state sponsored terrorism, are you?”

Blinken quickly responded, "never say never."

Lawmakers and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly put pressure on the Biden administration to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terror, but the Biden administration has not taken that action out of concern for unintended consequences.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Treasury Department said it would designate Russia's Wagner mercenary group as a "transnational criminal organization."