Donald Trump, the President of the United States, is reportedly expected to support a new sanctions bill against Russia, led by the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
Bloomberg News reported on July 13, citing White House officials, that Trump plans to back the sanctions legislation pushed by Graham.
If Trump supports the bill, it could bolster congressional efforts to impose sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil and natural gas. Bloomberg noted that this could yield significant results for Ukraine, which has long sought to cut off Russia's energy revenue.
However, Trump has been cautious when directly asked about his support for the bill. He told reporters the previous evening, "We are discussing that issue" and added, "A decision will be made soon."
Graham, a prominent advocate for Ukraine within the Republican Party, passed away unexpectedly on July 11. Just before his death, he visited Kyiv and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Upon returning, he announced an agreement with bipartisan senators to push for a new sanctions bill against Russia in the Trump administration.
Graham first introduced a bill in April 2022 calling for "crippling sanctions" against Russia. The legislation proposed imposing up to a 500% so-called "secondary tariff" on countries purchasing Russian energy. Details on how the new bill will differ from the previous proposal remain unclear.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune stated that lawmakers are currently reviewing the bill, noting that Graham was a "driving force" behind it. He remarked, "If we can find a way to pass this bill, it would be a tremendous achievement and a wonderful tribute and legacy for Lindsey."
The White House has previously opposed additional sanctions, arguing they could undermine diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. However, as peace negotiations have stalled and Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Zelensky's proposal for a face-to-face meeting, calls for increased pressure on Russia are growing. Additionally, Ukraine's recent use of drone capabilities to put Russia in a difficult position has further strengthened the possibility of U.S. sanctions against Russia.
In fact, Trump met with Zelensky at the NATO summit in Turkey last week, where he announced plans to allow local production of Patriot missile defense systems in Ukraine.
Putin Increases Pressure on Opposition
Meanwhile, under pressure from Ukraine's counteroffensive, President Putin stated that he would respond "much more strongly" to Ukraine's drone attacks, asserting, "Victory is clearly waiting for us."
He is also intensifying pressure on the opposition. Russian authorities arrested opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who attempted to run in last year's presidential election, on charges of "posting extremist symbols." Nadezhdin had sought to challenge Putin by advocating for an end to the war in Ukraine and normalization of relations with the West, but his candidacy was rejected.
The Russian Ministry of Justice had previously designated Nadezhdin as a "foreign agent." His arrest raises the likelihood that he will be unable to run in the upcoming State Duma elections in September. Most major opposition figures who could effectively challenge Putin are currently imprisoned or in exile.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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