In the U
S. Senate, Trump’s challenge has reignited discussions about new sanctions against Russia In the context of recent statements by former President Donald Trump, who recently commented on the situation around Ukraine and Russia’s aggression, Congress has begun to seriously consider the possibility of implementing additional sanctions against Moscow. Especially actively, Republican senators are raising this issue, believing that American tools of economic pressure can play an important role in forcing Russia to seek peace. Specifically, Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized his bill that proposes the introduction of broad secondary tariffs on Russian resource imports. The document, known as the “Trade Restrictions Act,” suggests imposing tariffs on strategically important Russian goods such as oil, gas, uranium, and other energy resources. Graham notes that this bill is supported by nearly 60 members of both parties, which indicates increasing political consensus on the need to strengthen sanctions. This comment from the senator came amid sharp statements by former President Trump, who criticized the recent Russian strikes on civilian objects in Ukraine and expressed doubts about Vladimir Putin’s intentions to end the war. Trump in particular condemned Kremlin actions, stressing that Russia is aggressive with the goal of destabilizing Ukraine, and expressed confidence that tougher measures are needed. At the same time, he threatened Moscow with new sanctions if the Kremlin shows no willingness to pursue an honest and fair peace process. In response to Senator Graham’s position, he clarified that he appreciates President Trump and his team’s efforts toward achieving peaceful settlement. According to Graham, his bill aims to apply “fair and just sanctions” to end the war in Ukraine — a war that was “provoked by Putin’s barbaric attack.” He added that the Senate, if necessary, will quickly and unanimously pass this legislation if Russia refuses peaceful pathways and once again unleashes a large-scale aggression against the country. Earlier, an important meeting took place in Rome between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, amidst growing pressure from Washington on Kyiv to accelerate efforts to find a solution to end the war. During this meeting, both leaders discussed possibilities for further U.S. support for Ukraine and potential scenarios for economic sanctions against Russia. The U.S. Department of State and the Department of Foreign Affairs have repeatedly emphasized that strengthening sanctions is a crucial tool for deterring Kremlin aggression and creating conditions for peace. Thus, although the decision to introduce new measures already exists in the form of a bill and enjoys broad support in the Senate, Washington’s official position remains — diplomatic efforts and economic sanctions should go hand in hand to achieve real results. Overall, against the backdrop of recent events in world politics and active discussions about the future of the conflict, the U.S. Congress seems to be inclined toward increasing sanctions pressure, aiming not only to impact Russia’s struggling economy but also to create the necessary conditions for peace on Ukrainian soil.