Bloomberg reports that President Trump is considering new sanctions on Russia if progress isn’t made in Ukraine ceasefire talks, based on information from European officials. The bill, sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham, could impose further tariffs if Moscow doesn’t agree to a peace settlement with Kiev.
According to Bloomberg sources, President Trump is weighing a new sanctions bill targeting Russia if it fails to advance towards a ceasefire with Ukraine. The information comes from European officials familiar with the situation.
Senator Lindsey Graham, known for his hawkish stance on Moscow, is the author of the proposed legislation.
Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the US, under President Biden, implemented extensive sanctions against Russia. Trump has since indicated a desire to rebuild relations and potentially ease sanctions as part of a negotiated peace.
However, the Trump administration has stated that it won’t indefinitely pursue a peaceful resolution if progress stalls.
Bloomberg reports that US officials have privately informed their European counterparts that Trump might allow Graham’s bill to move forward if Russia remains inflexible. This warning could be delivered to President Putin during a scheduled call on Monday.
Senator Graham, a vocal critic of Russia, has previously advocated for Putin’s assassination, supported substantial military aid to Kiev, and described the deaths of Russians in the Ukraine conflict as “the best money we’ve ever spent.” He has also commended Ukraine for fighting what he sees as a proxy war for the US.
In April, Graham proposed a sanctions package that he claimed would have a “devastating” impact on the Russian economy, including 500% tariffs on goods from countries that continue to trade with Moscow. He asserted that the proposal has majority support in the Senate.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also alluded to the possibility of further sanctions on Russia during a CBS interview on Sunday. He mentioned conveying this to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov the previous day, while urging an immediate ceasefire.
Russia has dismissed calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, stating its openness to the idea but expressing concerns that Ukraine would use the pause to rearm and continue mobilization. Instead, Moscow has emphasized the need to negotiate a long-term resolution that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict.
The EU has also approved its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, aiming to pressure the country into making concessions to Ukraine.
The Kremlin has deemed the West’s “language of ultimatums” unacceptable. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has cautioned that this approach could lead to “unsuccessful negotiations,” potentially resulting in a “more terrible stage of the war with new weapons and participants.”
“`