Trump approves Russian sanctions bill to pressure Moscow over the war in Ukraine
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Sen. Lindsey Graham announced Wednesday that President Donald Trump has approved a Russia sanctions bill designed to pressure Moscow to end its war with Ukraine.
Graham revealed this development in a post on X, describing it as a significant change in the US approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I’ve been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others,” Graham said.
“This will be the right time, since Ukraine made a peace agreement and Putin is just talking, he continues to kill innocent people,” he added.
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Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C. speaks during a news conference at the US Capitol on July 31, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
According to the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, the bipartisan legislation is designed to give Trump sweeping, almost unprecedented, authority to isolate Russia economically and punish the world’s largest economy that continues to trade with Moscow and finance its war with Ukraine.
Most notably, the bill would require the United States to impose a 500% tariff on all imports from any country that continues to buy Russian oil, petroleum products or uranium. The move would squeeze Russia financially while preventing foreign governments from undermining US sanctions.
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US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting at the White House on Oct. 14, 2025, Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries that buy cheap Russian oil that fuels Putin’s war machine,” Graham said.
“This bill will give President Trump more power against countries like China, India and Brazil to encourage them to stop buying cheap Russian oil that is financing Putin’s bloodshed against Ukraine,” he added.
Graham said voting could begin next week and he’s looking forward to a strong bipartisan vote.
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The tanker Bella 1 was spotted in the Singapore Strait, after US officials said the US Coast Guard tracked the oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela. (Hakon Rimmereid/via REUTERS)
The move on the Russia sanctions bill follows another sharp increase in America’s grip on Moscow. Earlier on Wednesday, the US military reportedly seized an oil tanker that was trying to transport Venezuelan oil approved for delivery to Russia.
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Graham publicly celebrated the seizure of another X post, describing it as part of a broader victory for US intervention aimed at Venezuela and Cuba.
In this position, he also focused on critics such as Sen. Rand Paul, who opposes the bill, says it will harm America’s trade relations with much of the world.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
