WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is now imposing a harsh sanctions package aimed at crippled Moscow economically while his administration continues to negotiate a deal to end the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said he met with Trump at the White House earlier Wednesday, during which the president “approved” the Russia sanctions bill that had been months in the making.
Graham has previously said Trump had approved the bill, but it hit more hurdles. But a White House official confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that the president supports the sanctions legislation.
Graham said in a statement, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, “This would be perfectly timed because Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is just paying lip service and continuing to kill innocent people.”
The bill, largely authored by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., would allow the government to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil, natural gas, uranium and other exports. The aim is to cut off funding for much of Russia’s military operations.
The White House had previously insisted that Trump provide some modifications and flexibility to the sanctions package, but White House officials did not elaborate on Wednesday whether any changes would be made.
The bill has dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate and a companion bill in the House authored by Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
Graham said a vote could come as early as next week, but it’s unclear how likely that is. If passed by the House, the Senate is poised to take up next week a scaled-back government funding package currently being considered by the House. The following week the Senate is on recess for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The Trump administration is currently trying to hammer out a peace deal to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner serving as the US president’s chief negotiators.
