President Trump has reportedly "greenlit" a sanctions bill aimed at squeezing Russia economically over its invasion of Ukraine, Sen. Lindsey Graham said after meeting the president. The measure, chiefly authored by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, would allow tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. Dozens of senators co-sponsor the bill and a House companion exists, but timing for a vote remains uncertain amid other Senate business and a scheduled recess. The announcement comes as the Trump administration pursues peace negotiations with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Sen. Graham Says Trump Has "Greenlit" Tough Sanctions Bill Targeting Russia Over Ukraine War
President Donald Trump, accompanied by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, left, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks with reporters while in flight on Air Force One, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, as returning to Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has agreed to back a forceful sanctions package intended to inflict significant economic pain on Moscow as his administration continues negotiating a potential peace deal to end the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters after a White House meeting Wednesday that the president had "greenlit" the sanctions bill lawmakers have been drafting for months. A White House official confirmed to The Associated Press that the president supports the legislation.
"This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent," Graham said in a statement referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
What the Bill Would Do
Authored mainly by Sen. Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the measure would give the administration authority to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that purchase Russia’s oil, gas, uranium and other exports. Lawmakers say the goal is to choke off revenue streams that finance large portions of Russia’s military operations.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., center, talks with reporters in the Senate subway during a vote at the Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The bill has drawn dozens of Senate co-sponsors and a companion measure in the House by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. The White House previously sought revisions and greater flexibility for the president within the package; officials did not say Wednesday whether any changes had been agreed to.
Timing And Political Context
Graham said the Senate could vote as early as next week, though the timing remains uncertain. The chamber is set to consider a scaled-back government funding package next week if the House approves it, and then will observe a recess for Martin Luther King Jr. Day the following week.
The administration is simultaneously pursuing a negotiated end to the nearly four-year war, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, serving as chief negotiators for the White House. Passage of the sanctions bill would signal a tougher economic posture against Russia even as diplomatic talks continue.
Why It Matters: If enacted, the legislation could expand U.S. leverage by pressuring not only Russia but also third-party buyers of Russian energy and strategic exports. That approach aims to reduce Moscow’s ability to fund military operations without requiring direct military involvement by the United States.
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