Senators Shaheen and Graham clash over Trump’s Ukraine policy, underscoring a debate on whether peace lies in tough sanctions or unconventional diplomacy.
WASHINGTON DC – The deep chasm within Washington over how to confront Russia’s aggression was on full display as two leading senators offered starkly opposing views on the Trump administration’s policy.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the leading Democrat on foreign policy, unleashed a scathing statement over the weekend after a self-imposed deadline by Trump for new sanctions on Russia passed without any action.
Shaheen accused Trump of allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to “walk across one of his red lines with zero consequences.”
“Setting deadlines and blowing through them deeply undermines America’s credibility,” Shaheen said, adding that such a pattern erodes US deterrence and its ability to bring Russia to the negotiating table.
The senator called for “biting sanctions and more security assistance to Ukraine,” arguing that this is the only way to demonstrate resolve to Putin and force him to negotiate in good faith.
She warned that without these measures, the war would “continue to drag on and more Ukrainians will continue to die.”
Shaheen also threatened to bypass the president, stating that if he “fails to impose further sanctions,” Congress stands “ready to pass with overwhelming majorities the Graham-Blumenthal bill the moment we return to session.”
In a separate interview with NBC, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a key Trump ally, presented a dramatically different perspective.
Graham expressed full confidence in Trump’s upcoming meeting with Putin in Alaska, stating that the president would “go to meet Putin from a position of strength” and secure an “honorable” end to the war.
Graham raised the possibility of Ukraine having to give up some of its territory, a suggestion that has been vehemently rejected by Kyiv.
He compared a potential territorial concession to the historical situations in Berlin and Korea, suggesting that “there will be some land swaps at the end.”
On the sanctions bill that bears his name, Graham defended the delay in bringing it to the Senate floor, arguing that the president is already “doing everything the bill does” through executive actions.
He cited a recent 50% tariff on India for its purchase of Russian oil as an example, saying this approach provides a “stronger hand legally” for the president’s tariff policy.
Graham said he was “okay with that” for now but would be open to discussing the legislation again in September.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/57873
Shaheen also threatened to bypass the president, stating that if he “fails to impose further sanctions,” Congress stands “ready to pass with overwhelming majorities the Graham-Blumenthal bill the moment we return to session.”
More empty words. Why didn’t you bypass TACO before he cancelled yet another of his tough deadlines?
“Senators Shaheen and Graham clash over Trump’s Ukraine policy, underscoring a debate on whether peace lies in tough sanctions or unconventional diplomacy.”
This is not unconventional diplomacy. This sort of diplomacy was used once before, 87 years ago already, but very unsuccessfully. Chamberlain had made WWII possible with his appeasing of Adolf Hitler.
Both taco and Graham are illustrating just how stupid and spineless they truly are.
The Dems are in more disarray than MAGA. The whole political landscape in the US is one giant circus.
Yes, it is. There are only a handful of level-headed Congressmen and women left over. The rest are headless chickens. And this goes for both parties.
So I guess it is TACO sunday tonight.
Figures.
he is not even a strong bully who earns his fer factor.
just a rat laughing a lions.