US Senator Lindsey Graham on Tuesday (January 7) said President Donald Trump has given his approval to a bipartisan bill aimed at tightening sanctions on Russia, marking a potential escalation in economic pressure over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Trump ‘greenlights’ sanctions push
Graham said the Russia sanctions bill received Trump’s backing after a meeting at the White House.
“After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others,” Graham said.
Timing linked to Ukraine war
The South Carolina Republican argued the legislation comes at a critical moment in the conflict.
“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent,” he said.
“This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine,” he said.
Pressure on China, India and Brazil
Graham specifically named major economies that could face pressure under the proposed legislation.
“This bill would give President Trump tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil to incentivize them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that provides the financing for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine,” he said.
Vote expected soon
Graham said he expects strong bipartisan backing in Congress.
“I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week,” he added.
