Sen. Graham says Trump has ‘greenlit’ sanctions bill aiming to punish Russia for war in Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump faces a harsh sanctions package that would cripple Moscow economically as his administration continues to negotiate a deal to end a war with Russia. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he met with Trump at the White House early Wednesday and that the president “gave the green light” to the Russia sanctions bill, which has been in the works for months.
Graham had previously signaled that Trump approved the bill but that it would face additional obstacles. But a White House official confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that the president supports the sanctions bill.
“This will be well timed as Ukraine has made concessions for peace and Putin continues to kill innocents,” Graham said in a statement, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The bill, authored primarily by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), gives the administration the authority to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that purchase Russia’s oil, gas, uranium and other exports. Doing so would mean cutting off funding for most of Russia’s military operations.
The White House had previously insisted that Trump be given some revisions and flexibility in the sanctions package, but a White House official did not elaborate Wednesday on whether any changes had been made.
The legislation has dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate, as well as a companion bill in the House by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.
Graham said a vote could be held as early as next week, but it’s unclear how likely that would be. The Senate is set to take up next week the scaled-back government funding package the House is currently considering, if it approves it. The following week, Martin Luther King Jr. There is a Senate holiday that falls on this day.
The Trump administration is currently trying to finalize a peace deal to end the now nearly four-year war in Ukraine, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner as the US president’s chief negotiators.
