Bipartisan Russian sanctions bill gains momentum in Senate with 84 cosponsors, giving President Donald Trump enhanced powers to block energy sales and impose tariffs.
Comments by Senate leadership have renewed expectations among lawmakers that the chamber will soon entertain sanctions on Russia — even as questions remain about whether President Donald Trump would support them.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters on Thursday that he thought the Senate could consider sanctions introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., «in the next 30 days.»
Trump, in contrast, told reporters on Thursday that «it may not be perfect timing» to impose sanctions on Russia.
The sanctions, which have been in the works for months, may have newfound momentum in Congress amid the Trump administration’s increased support for Ukraine in recent weeks — and as Zelenskyy returned to the U.S. this week to press his case for a more aggressive stance against Moscow.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle believe the sanctions bill is ripe for consideration. Senators like Blumenthal said those sanctions could be a missing component to ending the three-year conflict that has so far frustrated attempts at meaningful resolution.
«Leader Thune is right. It’s time to bring the Graham-Blumenthal Russian Sanctions bill to the floor», Blumenthal told Fox News Digital in a statement.
«Passing it would show unity across our government in support of confronting Putin’s bloody atrocities against Ukraine.
