Senator Lindsey Graham Calls for New Sanctions Against Russia Ahead of G7 Summit
Longtime ally and supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, has once again intensified his calls to increase pressure on the Kremlin through comprehensive sanctions. In his recent statements, he announced his intention to push for new economic restrictions against Russia just before the G7 summit, scheduled for June 15–17 in Canada. He believes such measures should serve as a signal to Moscow, as well as to countries like China, which are actively assisting the Kremlin in circumventing international sanctions. According to the senator, the idea is to implement the sanctions by mid-June, before the summit begins. This would enable the creation of significant diplomatic and economic pressure and demonstrate the United States' unity with the European Union and other G7 member countries. Graham, along with colleagues from the Democratic Party, held several negotiations in Paris with representatives of the French government, during which they discussed possible steps. Following these consultations, they issued a joint statement reaffirming that efforts to introduce sanctions should be coordinated with European partners. At the core of the discussions is a bill proposing a 500% tariff on imports from countries that buy Russian oil and other energy resources. This bill has already received support from 82 senators and has the potential to become one of the key leverage tools against Russia. Graham emphasizes: “Russia is ruthlessly killing civilians — men, women, and children. This is no longer just a local war — the world must act decisively. We need to bring China and other countries that buy cheap Russian oil into this effort to undermine the Kremlin’s military potential. If we want to end this war, China in particular must take responsibility and help bring it to an end.” Regarding former President Trump’s position, Graham notes that his stance on stricter sanctions remains uncertain. Trump, as is known, advocated for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine but has recently expressed increasing disillusionment with Vladimir Putin’s actions. This situation is causing additional tension within the Republican ranks and raises questions about their unity in this diplomatic and economic campaign. Moreover, senators held a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they expressed confidence that Moscow is preparing for a larger-scale offensive toward the end of summer or early fall. They assured France's leader that they are convinced of the Kremlin’s aggressive plans and emphasized the need to strengthen support for Ukraine and increase sanctions to make Russia stop. Another critical point is the threat of new large-scale sanctions coming from Congress. Senator Graham reports that the upper chamber is already beginning to consider legislation that could impose significant restrictions on Russia if there is no progress in peace negotiations and a ceasefire is not reached. Graham and other politicians are monitoring the situation carefully and ready to act to maximize pressure on the aggressor nation. So far, many loud statements and promises regarding sanctions have been made in the U.S., but their implementation has been delayed or hindered by political and diplomatic complexities. Now, according to Republican senators, the time has come — they are eager to act decisively and in a coordinated manner to increase pressure and force Moscow and its allies to retreat while the war continues. However, whether there will be the political will and sufficient unity in Washington to realize these ambitions remains an open question amid global challenges and rising tensions.