Senators Promote Bipartisan Sanctions Bill to Arm Trump with ‘Sledgehammer’ Against Russia

U.S. senators on Sunday rallied behind a bipartisan sanctions bill designed to give President Donald Trump sweeping authority to target Russia and its international backers, as tensions between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin continue to escalate.

The legislation — led by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal — would empower Trump to impose crippling economic penalties, including 500% tariffs on countries that support Russia’s war effort, such as China, India, and Brazil.

“This is truly a sledgehammer available to President Trump to end this war,” Graham said in an appearance on CBS News. “It gives him the tools to go after Putin’s economy and all those countries who prop up the Putin war machine.”

Trump Signals Support Amid Growing Frustration with Putin

President Trump has expressed openness to the sanctions package, especially as relations with Moscow deteriorate and Russia continues to unleash missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. Trump, who has spent months attempting to negotiate a ceasefire with Putin, recently signaled a more aggressive stance.

During a Cabinet meeting last week, Trump said Putin had been “talking a lot of bullshit” and hinted that his patience was running out. “I’m looking at it very strongly,” he said when asked about the sanctions bill.

Trump is expected to deliver a “major statement” on Russia on Monday, as U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg begins a new visit to Kyiv. The timing suggests a shift in the administration’s approach as peace talks stall.

NATO Coordination and Frozen Assets

As part of a broader push to support Ukraine, Trump recently approved additional arms deliveries, including through a NATO-led initiative in which allies would purchase U.S. weapons to transfer to Ukraine.

Graham and Blumenthal are also scheduled to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday to coordinate efforts. One key topic will be the legal hurdles surrounding frozen Russian assets — particularly a potential $5 billion in U.S.-controlled funds — which some lawmakers want redirected to Ukraine.

“It’s time to do it,” Blumenthal said. “Unlocking those assets could provide Ukraine with the financial power it needs to stay in the fight.”

Growing Congressional Support

According to Graham, the sanctions bill is gaining momentum and already has majority backing in the Senate. It would give Trump the discretion to decide whether or not to impose penalties, while still allowing him to waive them for 180 days if deemed necessary.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the proposed legislation in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “exactly the kind of leverage that can bring peace closer and make sure diplomacy is not empty.”

With bipartisan support and Trump’s increasing willingness to apply pressure on Russia, the bill could mark a significant turning point in Washington’s response to the war in Ukraine.