Senator Graham says Trump has ‘green-lit’ sanctions bill to punish Russia for war in Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has now joined a tough sanctions package aimed at crippling Moscow economically as his administration continues to negotiate a deal to end the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Read more: What do you know about the peace talks regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine?

Senator Lindsey Graham said he met with Trump at the White House earlier on Wednesday, where the president gave the green light to the Russia sanctions bill that had been in preparation for months.

Graham had previously indicated that Trump had blessed the bill, but he faced additional obstacles. But a White House official confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that the president supports sanctions legislation.

“This will come at the right time, as Ukraine makes concessions for peace and Putin speaks out and continues to kill innocents,” Graham said in a statement, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Read more: Russia launches ‘large-scale strike’ on Kiev, killing one person and wounding many ahead of Ukrainian-US talks

The bill, authored by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, would allow the administration to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. Doing so aims to cut off the source of funding for many Russian military operations.

The White House had previously insisted on some revisions and flexibility for Trump in the sanctions package, but a White House official on Wednesday did not clarify whether any changes had been secured.

Read more: Putin criticizes US sanctions as “unfriendly” while the European Union joins in adding more restrictions on Russia

This legislation has dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate, in addition to a companion bill in the House of Representatives, drafted by Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican of Pennsylvania.

Graham said there could be a vote as early as next week, although it’s unclear how likely that is. The Senate is preparing to discuss next week the reduced government funding package that the House of Representatives is currently considering, if the House approves it. The following week is the Senate recess for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Trump administration is currently trying to finalize a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, now nearly four years old, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, as the US president’s chief negotiators.