WASHINGTON -- As Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues, Washington is debating how to sustain pressure on the Kremlin while confronting growing cooperation between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.Senator Rick Scott, an influential Republican from Florida who sits on several key bodies and is one of the Senate's strongest advocates for increased pressure on the Kremlin for its war against Ukraine, told RFE/RL on August 4 he believes those challenges are inseparable.The interview has been edited for clarity and length.RFE/RL: We watched you last week actively lobbying for and co-sponsoring Senator Lindsey Graham's Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026. Is the time right for Congress to pass the bill, and do you believe President Trump would sign it?Senator Rick Scott: Absolutely. Putin's a thug. It's despicable what he's done to the Ukrainian people and how many women, children, and grandmothers Putin has killed. It's important for us to stand for freedom.You really have to admire the people of Ukraine. Last week, I invited two Ukrainian commanders here to explain what they've done with their drone technology and their warfighting, and you really have to admire them.If you support what Russia is doing, then you should be sanctioned. There's no question about it.RFE/RL: You serve on several key committees and chair a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee. When you're making the case for this legislation to your colleagues, what argument do you emphasize most?Scott: What I talk about is that we're living in dangerous times. There are despicable people who control countries and resources around the world right now.You look at [President] Xi in China. You look at Putin in Russia. You look at the Ayatollah [Mojtaba Khamenei] in Iran. You look at Kim Jong Un. You look in this hemisphere at Raúl Castro, and before January, [former President Nicolas] Maduro down in Venezuela. We have people who want to destroy our way of life, so we're going to have to show up, and we need to support our friends. We should expect our friends to do more to defend themselves and understand this is a dangerous time.