Liudmyla Zhernovska 00:48, 15.07.25 UNIAN
This comes against the backdrop of Trump’s latest statements
US Senate Majority Leader John Thune is halting the Graham-Blumenthal bill , which would impose sanctions on Russia and its allies.
According to Politico , the senator’s decision came after President Donald Trump set a 50-day deadline for reaching a peace deal over the war in Ukraine. Thune told reporters that he interpreted his words as an intention to act independently:
“If at some point the president comes to the conclusion that this makes sense and adds the value and leverage that he needs in the negotiations to move the bill forward, then we will do it. We will be ready.”
Trump himself has said that imposing a 500% import tariff is unnecessary, as his proposed 100% tariff would serve the same purpose. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal have supported both Trump’s tariff threats and the decision to sell NATO weapons to Ukraine.
“However, the final hammer that will end this war will be tariffs against countries like China, India, and Brazil that support Putin’s war machine by buying cheap Russian oil and gas. The goal is not to increase tariffs and sanctions – the goal is to force Putin to the peace table,” their statement said.
Graham and Blumenthal Bill
Recall that the bill called the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, initiated by Senators Lindsey Graham (Republican) and Richard Blumenthal (Democrat), provides for the toughest economic sanctions against Russia to date .
The document was introduced to the Senate on April 1 and currently has over 80 co-sponsors from both parties – this indicates broad bipartisan support, which makes it possible to overcome even a presidential veto.
The main provisions provide for the introduction of 500% tariffs on imports of goods from countries that continue to purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other resources.
In addition, the bill contains provisions on primary and secondary sanctions against Russian oligarchs, the banking sector, and energy companies. The sanctions include asset freezes, transaction bans, and significant restrictions on international cooperation with Russia.
I guess we don’t need the Senate sanctions since Trump’s plan is to start with the 100% tariffs. But, the Senate will be ready with it if it becomes necessary. The Senate should have passed it weeks ago imo.
Tariffs on a country with which we hardly have any trade is completely preposterous and only smoke and mirrors.
You sound exactly like Medvedev, hmmm…;)
If you think so.
This is yet another Three Stooges antic by our weak and useless Congress.
Except nobody is laughing at these antics, except mafia land.
As usual…
Graham doesn’t have much lucks getting bills through. His previous sanctions from hell, disappeared without trace. These will do the same because TACO wants all the credit if by some miracle a ceasefire is achieved. He can then do a victory lap with his Nobel peace prize which will be as undeserved as Obama’s.
If the war is ended within 50 days I don’t think the good people of Ukraine will care about things like awards, bills, politics or acronyms….just peace.