Politics
Strengthen, don’t soften the Russia sanctions bill
Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) expansive Russia sanctions bill faces opposition from a White House that persists in the delusion that appeasing President Vladimir Putin will lead to peace in Ukraine and improved relations with the U.S. Putin has exploited this to his benefit at every turn — most recently with a cynical prisoner swap proposal to distract from his largest-ever drone and missile assault on Ukraine. Softening the sanctions bill would embolden Putin’s aggression, prolong Ukraine’s suffering, and further undermine America’s global credibility.
The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, introduced by Sens. Graham and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), proposes a 500% tariff on imports from countries buying Russian oil and gas, plus other punitive measures. It is a surgical strike at Russia’s $200 billion energy export market, which funds the tanks, drones, and missiles devastating Ukraine. Graham has signaled his intention to add language that would allow carve-outs for countries that provide military or economic assistance to Ukraine, balancing strategic alliances while applying pressure on Russia’s enablers. More than 80 Senators support the bill in its current form. The House Committee on Foreign Affairs is considering parallel legislation that has 59 cosponsors, both Republican and Democrat.
“There [are] many members of Congress that want us to sanction Russia as strongly as we can,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) recently said. “And I’m an advocate of that.”
The White House is pushing to dilute the bill by inserting waivers that would allow Trump to choose whom or what to sanction, and discretionary language such as turning every ‘shall’ into ‘may.’ The White House believes the constitution gives the president authority to conduct diplomacy with foreign nations, and that legislation must provide maximum flexibility for him.
Responding to Putin with anything but maximum pressure at this juncture is dangerously naive. The Russian leader has sacrificed hundreds of thousands of lives in his imperial war. He has also reneged on countless promises during negotiations. Trump himself has acknowledged that Putin acts in bad faith and cannot be trusted, calling him “absolutely crazy” following Russia’s massive drone and missile attacks in late May. Such a person understands only the logic of force. Graham’s “bone-crushing” sanctions bill sees this reality clearly.
Forced between losing access to the U.S. economy and maintaining access to Russia’s energy, which is slightly cheaper than energy bought in the global market, India and Turkey would quickly look for new suppliers. China would complain but also seek a compromise for fear of inflicting greater pain on its fumbling economy. Putin can ill-afford these consequences. He desperately needs foreign capital generated by energy sales to fund his war and support basic services at home that pacify his suppressed people. With high inflation, collapsing private investment, a significant shortage of skilled labor, and chronic shortages of spare parts, Putin badly needs money and stability.
RUSSIAN ATTACK ON EASTERN UKRAINE KILLS 3, WOUNDS 21
Watering down the bill would not only reinforce Putin’s belief that he can outlast the West but also send the wrong message to autocrats around the world that aggression will be tolerated. The sanctions could restore a measure of deterrence lost in recent years as China encircles Taiwan, signaling that aggression comes with a cost. Dilution also would send the wrong message to allies who have rallied behind tough sanctions and given up energy security to isolate Russia.If Trump wants to secure peace in Ukraine, he should recognize that he must impose greater financial pain on the architect of misery. If not, he is showing that he lacks the courage to take Putin on.
