Sen. Graham says Trump has ‘greenlit’ sanctions bill aiming to punish Russia for war in Ukraine

In a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Russia, President Donald Trump has endorsed a comprehensive sanctions package designed to economically isolate Moscow as his administration pursues diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced Wednesday that Trump had “greenlit” the sanctions legislation during their meeting at the White House. A White House official later confirmed to The Associated Press that the president supports the bill, which has been in development for months.

“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent,” Graham said in a statement, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The bipartisan legislation, primarily authored by Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), would grant the administration authority to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports. The sanctions aim to cut off the financial resources fueling Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, which began nearly four years ago.

The bill has garnered substantial support in Congress, with dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate and a companion bill in the House of Representatives drafted by Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).

Trump’s endorsement marks a notable development in his approach to Russia. Throughout his first term and during his recent campaign, Trump had expressed interest in quickly ending the conflict, sometimes raising concerns among allies about potential concessions to Russia at Ukraine’s expense.

The White House had previously requested revisions and flexibility for Trump in implementing the sanctions package, though officials have not specified whether any changes were secured before the president gave his approval.

Graham suggested that the Senate could vote on the legislation as early as next week, though the timing remains uncertain. The Senate is scheduled to consider a government funding package next week, followed by a recess coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The sanctions bill comes at a critical moment in the Ukraine conflict. The war has caused tens of thousands of casualties and displaced millions of Ukrainians since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. While Ukraine has shown remarkable resilience and received substantial Western military aid, recent months have seen Russia making incremental territorial gains along the eastern front.

Energy exports remain Russia’s economic lifeline, with the country redirecting much of its oil and gas to Asian markets following earlier Western sanctions. The proposed legislation aims to close these economic loopholes by targeting countries that continue to purchase Russian energy resources.

The Trump administration is simultaneously pursuing diplomatic channels to end the conflict, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, leading negotiations. How these peace efforts will align with the proposed sanctions remains to be seen.

Foreign policy analysts suggest the sanctions package could serve as leverage in peace negotiations, demonstrating U.S. willingness to increase economic pressure on Russia if diplomatic efforts fail to yield acceptable terms.

The legislation’s progression through Congress will be closely watched by international markets, particularly in the energy sector, where Russian exports play a significant role in global supply chains despite existing sanctions.

European allies, who have faced energy challenges since reducing their dependence on Russian supplies, will likely welcome the U.S. move while carefully monitoring its impact on global energy prices and availability.