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Despite President Donald Trump’s apparent admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his recent highly-publicized lambasting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, nearly half of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate have joined with Democratic colleagues in introducing new hard-hitting sanctions aimed at Russia in response to Putin’s continued refusal to seek peace with Ukraine.
Led by U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, and Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, the new sanctions are cosponsored evenly by 25 Republican senators and 25 Democratic senators alike. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., is among the Republicans who have signed on to the legislation.
“These sanctions would be imposed if Russia refuses to engage in good faith negotiations for a lasting peace with Ukraine or initiates another effort, including military invasion, that undermines the sovereignty of Ukraine after peace is negotiated,” reads Britt’s official press release regarding the sanctions. “The legislation also imposes a 500 percent tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products.”
Sens. Graham and Blumenthal also released an official statement touting the bipartisan support for their legislation.
“We are pleased to announce that we have received overwhelming bipartisan support for our primary and secondary sanctions legislation against Russia. The sanctions against Russia require tariffs on countries who purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products,” the senators wrote.
“They are hard hitting for a reason,” they continued. “The dominating view in the United States Senate is that Russia is the aggressor, and that this horrific war and Putin’s aggression must end now and be deterred in the future. We share President Trump’s frustration with Russia when it comes to obtaining a ceasefire, and support President Trump’s desire to achieve a lasting, just and honorable peace.”
The senators emphasized their willingness to use the sanctions as leverage in order to achieve a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
“It is our hope that in 2025, President Trump and his team will achieve what has eluded the world in the past: ending Russian aggression against Ukraine permanently and ensuring the survivability of a free and democratic Ukraine,” they wrote. “These sanctions against Russia are at the ready and will receive overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support if presented to the Senate and House for a vote. We support an immediate ceasefire to secure a lasting, honorable peace.”
Alabama’s other U.S. senator, Tommy Tuberville, did not sign on to the sanctions. Tuberville has previously faced criticism from fellow Republicans, including Graham, for calling Ukrainian President Zelenskyy a “dictator” and “not a constitutional president” while simultaneously downplaying Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
“[Putin] doesn’t want Ukraine, he doesn’t want Europe,” Tuberville said in a 2024 appearance on Trump-ally Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast. “He’s got enough land of his own. He just wants to make sure that he does not have United States weapons in Ukraine pointing at Moscow.”
Companion legislation to Graham and Blumenthal’s sanctions is also being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives where it, too, is expected to gain wide bipartisan support. It is unclear when Republican leadership might hold a vote on either bill.
