The leader of an advocacy group linked to former Vice President Pence has reached out to prominent Republicans in Congress, encouraging them to implement new sanctions on Russia in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In a letter obtained by The Hill, Tim Chapman, president of American Free, addressed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Tune (R-D.). He emphasized the importance of the “Authorization of the Russian Act of 2025,” a proposed bill intended to impose significant tariffs—up to 500%—on nations importing Russian oil products.
“The imminent threat of crippling the Russian economy is very real,” Chapman stated. He suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin should be pressured to negotiate and cited President Trump’s previous efforts towards securing peace in Eastern Europe as notable.
Chapman suggested that Trump was genuinely attempting to foster peace, yet contrasted that with Putin’s aggressive actions in Eastern Europe, which he considers a direct response to those peace efforts.
“The time is now for Congress to act decisively in crippling the Russian economy through an extensive and unwavering sanctions effort,” Chapman asserted. He noted that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there has been a tragic loss of Ukrainian lives and multiple war crimes committed.
This sanctions initiative is spearheaded by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). They reported that their proposal has garnered significant bipartisan support, with 100 co-sponsors in the House and 85 in the Senate.
Trump has been awaiting any new economic measures against Russia for several months. Outside of imposing extra tariffs on purchases of Russian oil from India, his administration has remained relatively quiet, frustrating some Republicans.
In an earlier summit in Alaska, Trump met with Putin and sought to arrange a follow-up discussion between Putin and Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky. However, that meeting has yet to materialize amidst ongoing Russian aggression.
Pence, who was Trump’s vice president, has expressed strong support for Ukraine, having visited the war-affected regions multiple times. He has previously urged more robust action from the administration against Russia, commending Trump for his unwavering support for Ukraine.
