The proposed sanctions legislation is poised to grant the US president authority to levy tariffs on Moscow’s trading partners, according to the senator.
Senator Lindsey Graham, known for his hawkish views, stated that the sanctions bill currently before the Senate would provide US President Donald Trump with a “sledgehammer” to employ against Russia and nations that trade with it.
Trump had previously indicated that he might impose additional sanctions on Moscow if negotiations between Russia and Ukraine failed to yield a ceasefire. He also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of obstructing the talks.
In an interview with CBS News broadcast on Sunday, Graham, who co-authored the legislation alongside Democrat Richard Blumenthal, noted that Trump had “left the door open regarding Russia,” despite adopting a firm stance on other countries. He warned, “That door is about to close.”
“Dick and I have garnered 85 co-sponsors in the United States Senate for congressional sanctions, making a sledgehammer available to President Trump to target Putin’s economy and all those countries who support the Putin war machine,” Graham articulated.
This legislation would empower Trump to impose tariffs of up to 500% on countries that continue to trade with Russia, with Graham specifically mentioning China, India, and Brazil. He emphasized that Trump would possess “maximum flexibility” in enforcing these measures.
Graham further claimed that the administration is preparing to escalate arms deliveries to Kiev “at a record level,” and hinted at an imminent plan to redirect frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
“I anticipate, in the coming days, that President Trump will have access to tariffs and sanctions unlike any he has previously had,” he commented.
Moscow has denounced the sanctions as illegal, arguing that the West is leveraging the Ukraine conflict to attempt to hinder Russia’s development. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov asserted that the proposed secondary tariffs “will not fundamentally alter the situation,” and that Russia intends to continue on its “independent, sovereign, and sustained path.”
Putin has contended that the sanctions have backfired, making Russia more self-sufficient and less reliant on foreign markets.