Four senators, two Republicans and two Democrats, put their names to one sentence this week. They said the legislative and executive branches must “work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine.” What lets them say it with confidence is a report from CBS News that the Trump White House has approved the latest draft of their sanctions bill.
Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democrat Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut confirmed the approval to CBS. Joining them in welcoming the agreement were Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who said they expect to roll out the text “very soon.” Their statement also accused Russia of intensifying “its slaughter of civilians.”
Word reaches Kyiv
A Ukrainian official told CBS that Graham informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the White House backing on Friday. The two men met in Kyiv that day, and Zelenskyy wrote on X that “Lindsey briefed me on the work underway in Congress on the relevant bill.” One of the sources said Zelenskyy has been told of the president’s approval of the tariff plan. White House spokespeople had not responded to a request for comment when CBS published.
The bill would allow high tariffs on countries that continue to buy Russian oil and natural gas. When they would begin after the measure became law has not been settled. Four years into the war, the aim is to add economic pressure on Moscow and bring the fighting to a close.
Why now
Both Graham and Blumenthal told CBS that Ukraine is turning the tide on the battlefield and that Vladimir Putin has to be brought to the table. According to Graham, Putin’s constant attacks figure in Trump’s thinking, and the president has been persuaded by Ukraine’s recent gains.
Blumenthal pointed to oil prices as well. They have fallen since the war with Iran cooled off, he said, so the step is easier to defend. He has no vote count yet, though he expects Democratic backing.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota told the sponsors earlier that he would move the bill once they had the votes. Senators return to Washington on Monday.
Blumenthal described sanctions as only part of a good week for Kyiv. At the NATO summit, he said, Zelenskyy handled his meetings with Trump skillfully, winning the long-sought license to produce and Trump’s approval for purchases of Ukrainian drones for U.S. use.
