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The bipartisan duo, who has been imposing strict sanctions on Russia, is giving President Donald Trump the runway after the latest intensified stance on Moscow.
Senator Lindsey Graham, Rs.C. and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have sought strict sanctions against Russia and its energy trading partners, and they have worked to improve the bill to meet requirements from the White House that will give Trump more flexibility.
The bill was on the sidelines by the push for Congressional Republicans to pass the president’s “big and beautiful bill,” and was probably attracting attention for the vote by the end of the month.
Russian sanctions bill wins steam as the White House appears to change Putin’s tone
President Donald Trump gestures as he is carrying the Air Force on his way to Washington at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey on July 6, 2025. (AP photo/Jaclyn Martin)
However, unless Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to end the war with Ukraine, Trump’s announcement that he would collect 100% tariffs on Moscow has once again halted the plan, and the bipartisan pair are not angry about it.
“It sounds like the president is trying to do this on his own,” said Senate majority leader John Tune, Rs.D. told reporters. “If at some point the President concludes that it makes sense and adds the value and leverage necessary to negotiate those to move the bill, we do that. We’re ready.”
The White House is interested in Russian sanctions proposals as talks on the Ukrainian war peace are dragged down
Senator Lindsey Graham, Rs.C. , in the East Room of the White House in Washington, September 10, 2024 (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The president’s warning came after he agreed to sell weapons to NATO.
“I’m pleased that the President is the president’s way of doing business, and we’ll continue to work with the White House to see if we can provide him with the tools Congress is working on,” Graham said.
Their bill slaps up to 500% tariffs in countries purchasing energy products from Moscow, in order to kneel Russian war machinery by mandating on exports of Moscow, gas, uranium and other, and by imposing duties on oil, gas, uranium and other exports purchased by China and India, which account for almost three-quarters of Moscow’s energy business.
When Trump calls for peace talks in Ukraine, a massive Russian sanctions package is a food stall
Senator Richard Blumental will speak to a reporter outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on February 27, 2025. (Getty Images)
But that doesn’t mean that work on the bill has stopped. Graham pointed out that having a Congressional “blessing” is good for the president and can help him legally and politically.
“But between the weapons and sanctions flowing through tariffs on the table, I think we can say today that was the game changer we were waiting for and hoping for. “Please call Ayatollah.”
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Blumenthal praised Trump’s shift, claiming he trusted him to watch the mocking and fl by Vladimir Putin. He argued that the bill, supported by dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), had already had an impact, and that Trump’s move was something of a “hammer.”
“Our bill is a sledgehammer,” Blumenthal said.
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital, which covers the US Senate.
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