A bipartisan effort to tighten economic pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine is facing delays in congress, despite a recent indication of support from former President Donald Trump. The proposed legislation, spearheaded by Senator Lindsey Graham, aims to sanction countries that continue to purchase russian oil, a key source of revenue for moscow. While Graham announced Trump’s backing on January 10th, the bill’s path forward remains uncertain, reflecting ongoing debates over the most effective strategy to counter Russian aggression and the complexities of U.S. foreign policy.
You are likely referring to the
bill
sponsored by the Senator from South Carolina.
Lindsey Graham
announced on Thursday
after a meeting with Donald Trump, that he had received “the green light” from the former president regarding the bipartisan legislation. Senator Richard Blumenthal is a co-author of the bill.
“This text will allow President Trump to punish countries that buy cheap oil from Russia, which contributes to fueling Putin’s war machine,” the Senator stated on X. “It will give President Trump considerable leverage over countries like China, India, and Brazil to encourage them to stop buying cheap Russian oil that finances the bloodshed perpetrated by Putin against Ukraine,” he continued.
In the same post, Graham expressed hope for “a bipartisan vote, if possible as early as next week.” However, no further communication regarding the bill has been made since then.
This is not the first time Graham has sought to impose stricter sanctions on Russia. Previously, Congressional leadership had delayed consideration of the bill, with Trump favoring the imposition of tariffs on certain imported goods, particularly from India, a major purchaser of Russian oil.
“We’ve heard repeatedly that it was going to happen – in the middle of the summer, at the end of the summer, before the holidays…”
Ukrainian Member of Parliament Yehor Cherniev told Censor
. “On the other hand, the geopolitical situation has evolved. The context has changed. We are certainly getting closer to this event, but as to whether it will happen next week, we will see.”
A proposed bipartisan bill aimed at increasing pressure on Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine remains stalled in Congress, despite receiving what Senator Lindsey Graham described as a signal of support from former President Donald Trump. The development highlights the complex interplay between U.S. domestic politics and international efforts to hold Moscow accountable.
Bonjour le Monde,
Aucune nouvelles du projet de sanctions de Lindsey Graham ?
RaulA
Graham announced on January 10th that Trump had given him the “green light” to move forward with the legislation, which would authorize the President to sanction countries continuing to purchase Russian oil. The Senator argued on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the bill would provide a key tool for curbing Russia’s revenue stream and limiting its ability to fund the conflict in Ukraine.
“This text will allow President Trump to punish countries that buy cheap oil from Russia, which contributes to fueling Putin’s war machine,” Graham stated. “It will give President Trump considerable leverage over countries like China, India, and Brazil to encourage them to stop buying cheap Russian oil that finances the bloodshed perpetrated by Putin against Ukraine.”
Graham initially hoped for a vote on the bill as early as the following week, but no further progress has been publicly reported. The delay echoes previous instances where efforts to strengthen sanctions against Russia have been hampered by internal Congressional disagreements and the Trump administration’s preference for alternative economic measures, such as tariffs.
Ukrainian MP Yehor Cherniev noted to Censor.net that similar timelines for the bill’s consideration have been proposed and missed in the past. “We’ve heard repeatedly that it was going to happen – in the middle of the summer, at the end of the summer, before the holidays…” he said. “On the other hand, the geopolitical situation has evolved. The context has changed. We are certainly getting closer to this event, but as to whether it will happen next week, we will see.”
The potential passage of this legislation could significantly impact global energy markets and diplomatic relations, particularly with major importers of Russian oil.
RaulA