Nancy Pelosi backs effort to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday said she would support the effort to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism amid Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Pelosi said she was pushing the State Department to make the designation, calling such a measure "long overdue," per Politico. The outlet previously reported that the speaker told Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the House would make the designation if he did not.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 and the conflict is ongoing. Despite the failure thus far of the Russian army to take Kyiv, forces under Moscovite control have taken large swathes of territory in Ukraine's southern provinces. Protracted sieges in Donbas cities, especially Mariupol, became humanitarian crises as the civilian death tolls rose.

Pelosi's comments come as the Senate prepares a similar declaration, Politico noted. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., remains hesitant of fast tracking the motion, saying he is still reviewing it.

Should the measure succeed, Russia would join Syria, Iran, Cuba, and North Korea on the list of state sponsors of terror.

Russia and Ukraine on Friday negotiated a compromise to ensure continued shipment of grain exports to avert a global food crisis.