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Two top Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate have indicated that they will push forward with a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham introduced a bipartisan sanctions bill designed to impose severe economic penalties on Russia in response to its continued aggression in Ukraine. The legislation would target key sectors of the Russian economy and impose sanctions on individual Russian officials. The bill would also include secondary sanctions — notably a 500% tariff — on countries such as China and India that purchase Russian energy products, thereby helping to finance Russia’s war effort. The measure has over 80 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate, making it effectively veto-proof.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated openness to advancing a Russia sanctions bill in the House, following signs of support from both the Senate and President Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters, Johnson said, “Vladimir Putin has shown an unwillingness to be reasonable and to talk seriously about brokering a peace, and I think we have to send him a message — that’s my view.” While Johnson noted he had not yet been briefed on the full details of the Senate bill, he acknowledged that “there’s interest in that on the House side, so we’ll have to see.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune also voiced strong support for the bill’s progress, stating on the Senate floor, “We’ve made substantial progress on Graham’s overwhelmingly bipartisan Russia sanctions legislation to enhance President Trump’s leverage at the negotiating table and to help end the bloodshed in Ukraine.” Thune said he expects the bill could be ready for Senate floor consideration “as early as this work period,” which would mean a vote could come before the Senate breaks for its August recess.
This all comes as President Trump has signaled he supports the sanctions legislation, marking a notable shift in his posture toward Russia. During a recent Cabinet meeting, Trump said he was considering the bill “very strongly.” He also expressed frustration with Vladimir Putin, saying, “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin. He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
