WASHINGTON
President Donald Trump has endorsed a major new sanctions package designed to economically pressure Russia, his administration announced Wednesday, as U.S. officials work to negotiate an end to the war sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The endorsement came after Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a chief author of the bill, met with Trump at the White House. Graham said the president “greenlit” the legislation, which had been in development for months.
A White House official later confirmed the president’s support to The Associated Press.
“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.
The bipartisan bill, co-written by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., would empower the administration to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions on nations that purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium and other key exports.
The measure aims to sever a primary source of funding for Russia’s military operations.
By James Kisoo
