For the past few months, the Biden administration has been working with Congress on legislation that would officially recognize Russia as an "aggressor state," but not a "state sponsor of terrorism."

Now the legislators are waiting to see if the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, will approve the corresponding proposal.

CNN writes about it.

Zelenskyy should express his position on this during his visit to Washington on December 21.

If the head of state approves such a decision of the United States, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi can present this law as a separate bill as early as this week. 

"The label ``aggressor state'' is less aggressive than the label ``state sponsor of terrorism,'' which many lawmakers, including Pelosi, imposed on the Biden administration because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine," the publication writes.

The White House still resists recognizing Russia as a sponsor of terror, citing the negative implications of such a label for ongoing US-Russia diplomacy.

These include, in particular, the issue of the exchange of prisoners, the UN-brokered agreement on permission to export grain from Ukraine, cross-border aid to Syria and other humanitarian efforts. 

"We are currently working with Congress on legislation that will help us overcome some of the challenges associated with using the designation 'state sponsor of terrorism,'" US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, adding that such wording would have "some unintended consequences."

At the same time, Republicans are convinced that the label "aggressor state" is not a very good substitute for what Ukraine offered.

He said that such a decision by the USA would not be significant.

"The proposed designation of an 'aggressor state' is a poor substitute for what Ukraine called for: the designation of Russia as a state sponsor of terror. This new designation does not hold Putin accountable for his horrific war crimes and unprovoked war against Ukraine," said a Republican Party representative. Michael McCall.

It should be noted that the assistant of one of the US congressmen stated that the status of the aggressor country was invented as an alternative to the immediate declaration of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, which is what Kyiv is asking for.

Read also:

• Zelensky's visit to the USA and meeting with Biden: everything that is known about the trip (updated)

• The White House explained why Biden invited Zelensky to the US: "A new phase of the war is underway"

• Putin said that Russia "wanted to become part of the civilized world", but they were prevented