The Trump administration is gearing up to back new legislation aimed at imposing sanctions on Russian oil and gas exports, which are considered vital to President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war efforts, according to a bipartisan group of senators who spoke on Friday.
This bill, first proposed by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) last year and currently supported by over 80 senators, has been stuck in Congress as President Trump has repeatedly suggested negotiations to resolve the four-year conflict.
“We’re excited to share that we’ve reached an agreement with the Trump Administration to move forward with the latest sanctions bill against Russia,” stated Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Conn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Graham in a joint announcement.
The senators indicated that Russian oil and gas exports are significantly contributing to Putin’s military efforts in Ukraine. They expressed their satisfaction with the development and mentioned that they plan to introduce the legislation soon. “Given the ongoing assaults on civilians, it’s crucial for both legislative and executive branches to collaborate in imposing severe penalties on those purchasing Russian energy,” they noted.
The Senate is set to reconvene after the July 4 break, with discussions on the bill expected to commence as early as Monday.
The original draft of the Russia Sanctions Act proposed imposing a staggering 500% tariff on nations importing energy from Russia, a major financial source for the Kremlin’s military operations.
It remains uncertain what amendments lawmakers and the Trump administration will agree upon to advance the bill.
After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kiev on Friday, Graham shared that he feels “more optimistic than ever” about the potential end of the conflict. He stated, “I’ve never felt this hopeful before that we have the right approach to resolving this war. We must enhance Ukraine’s defense, make it clear to supporters of Russia that they will face consequences, and aim for a resolution that allows Ukraine to thrive.”
According to Graham, reaching an agreement with the White House on the sanctions bill text signifies it is likely to become law. He also commented that the legislation aims to encourage nations to explore alternative energy sources.
President Trump has voiced his support for the sanctions bill on multiple occasions, even discussing it with President Zelensky during the recent NATO summit in Turkey. He remarked on the strengthening relationship between the two nations, mentioning, “Believe it or not, we’ve had a great relationship; it stretches from the Oval Office to now.”
This week, Trump also informed Zelensky that he would authorize Ukraine to produce urgently needed Patriot air defense missiles.
The White House has not yet provided a comment on the matter.
