Vitaly Saenko21:04, 30.05.25

Lindsey Graham does not believe that the next talks in Istanbul will bring positive results.

The US Senate (the Upper House of Congress) may begin considering a bill to impose devastating sanctions on Russia and countries that buy Russian oil as early as next week . This is a reaction to the Kremlin’s reluctance to stop the war. As reported by a UNIAN correspondent, the corresponding announcement was made at a briefing in Kyiv by US senators – Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal.

According to Graham, this summer should be considered a season of “responsibility for the world.”

At the same time, according to him, on June 2, Monday, negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine and Russia may take place in Istanbul, but no one knows the agenda.

“But I don’t believe that Russia is interested in peace. As we speak, they are massing their troops along the border of Ukraine for a counter-offensive in the summer or fall. When they talk about peace, they are dragging out negotiations,” Graham said.

In his opinion, if you pay attention to what is happening at the front, it becomes clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to prepare another military offensive.

Graham does not see Putin as a willing partner when the Ukrainians are doing everything unconditionally for peace.

In his opinion, the Russians “don’t want peace, they want more war.” “They assume that the West will get tired of this, retreat and give in. This is a big mistake,” Graham emphasized.

In this regard, the Republican noted that 82 out of 100 senators co-authored the legislative project, which will create the basis for introducing destructive sanctions not only against Russia, but also against those countries that buy Russian oil and gas, uranium and other minerals.

According to him, 70% of all Russian oil is purchased by China and India.

For this reason, after Kyiv, Graham will travel to France and Germany to “urge our European allies to lower the price cap [on Russian oil] to make life more difficult for the Russian economy, which depends on the sale of minerals.”

The senator will also call on OPEC to increase oil production and reduce oil prices.

According to the senator, if this is done, in particular, by Europe, then Russia’s military machine will suffer.

“When Europe moves down that path, and also takes into account sanctions on China, the Senate will act,” Graham said.

He plans to brief Senate Majority Leader John Thune on the conversations in Europe, and the Senate will also have a Ukrainian briefing next week, and “we’ll push that idea.”

As Graham noted, Ukraine is not losing the war because Russia is spreading such propaganda.

“So I would expect the Senate to move forward on sanctions legislation next week. The House is ready to move and you’ll see action from Congress,” Graham said.

He recalled that, according to President Donald Trump, the next two weeks will be decisive.

At the same time, Graham expressed doubt that the next meeting in Istanbul would show the Russians’ interest in establishing peace.

“So when this two-week period is over, I think it will be pretty clear to everybody that Russia is playing the world again, not just the United States, and we are going to change that game for Russia. The game that Putin is playing is going to change. He is going to be hit, and hit hard, by the United States when it comes to sanctions,” Graham said.

He also predicts that sanctions will affect China.

“If you continue to buy cheap Russian oil that fuels the Russian war machine, there will be tariffs of 500% on all your products that come into the United States. So, the game will be changed. Enough talk,” Graham said.

(c)UNIAN 2025