According to an anonymous White House official, U.S. President Donald Trump intends to support a Russia sanctions bill initiated by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a move that would increase pressure on the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump's backing would constitute a significant victory for Ukraine, aiding efforts to advance long-stalled measures aimed at penalizing purchasers of Russian oil and gas.
However, when questioned by reporters on Monday evening about his support for the bill, the President himself did not appear to express a definitive commitment. Trump stated, "We are discussing it, and a decision will be made soon."
Graham, one of the most steadfast Ukraine supporters among Senate Republicans, passed away suddenly on Saturday. He had just returned to the U.S. from a visit to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Graham, along with a bipartisan group of senators, stated last Friday that they had reached an understanding with the Trump administration to move forward with new Russia sanctions legislation.
Media reports had previously indicated that Trump supported this bill.
It remains unclear how the new legislation differs from prior legislative efforts. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Monday that lawmakers are "evaluating" the bill and praised the senior senator from South Carolina, Graham, as the "driving force" behind the initiative.
Graham's bill was initially introduced last April, at which time he called for "crippling" sanctions on Russia. That version would authorize President Trump to impose so-called secondary tariffs of up to 500% on countries purchasing Russian energy.
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