RomeTo demonstrate their sustained commitment to passing what they call a “game-changer bill,” the co-sponsors of a new bipartisan U.S. sanctions package targeting Russia briefed Ukraine and European partners on the legislation Thursday.
Targeting countries like China and India, which provide around 70% of Russia’s energy trade and fund a large portion of its war effort, the bill, supported by both Republican and Democratic senators, calls for a 500% cutback on companies that continue to purchase Russian gas, oil, uranium, and other commodities.
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“We hope to get the legislation to a Senate vote before the August recess,” Graham and Blumenthal told The Associated Press in Rome. On Thursday, they declared their conviction that it will provide President Donald Trump with the means and adaptability he needs to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into engaging in peace talks.
Graham stated that we will no longer play whack-a-mole with sanctions and Russia. We are targeting his (Putin’s) clientele. And I believe that’s what the Europeans are most happy about.
This goes beyond simply carrying on with our current approach. Blumenthal went on to say that this is a true turning point. Because it tells Putin, “We’re going to hit you right where it hurts,” it’s a true game-changer.
An alliance of the willing
The coalition of the willing, which consists of more than 30 nations ready to commit soldiers to maintain peace in Ukraine once hostilities finish, was briefed by Graham and Blumenthal during a meeting in Rome. On the fringes of a conference on Ukraine’s recovery, the United States attended the gathering for the first time.
Retired Lt. Gen. Trump’s special envoy to Russia and Ukraine joined them. In order to strengthen the U.S. presence at the Rome summit and demonstrate congressional support for Ukraine, the senators attended the event at the invitation of host Italy, although they emphasized that no U.S. forces would be in Ukraine.
According to Graham, “I believe we encouraged Ukraine and the Europeans that America and the Congress were involved in a bipartisan fashion.” We want to give the president the authority to bring Putin to the table using resources that are currently unavailable to him.
“The goal is to hopefully get this legislation to the president by the end of the month,” he stated.
A due date prior to summer vacation
Congress has been waiting for Trump’s approval before lawmakers take a summer holiday, but they are ready to move forward with the legislation, which has overwhelmingly bipartisan support in the Senate.
The White House has voiced some concerns thus far. Without giving up influence to Congress, Trump wants complete control over the waiver process to remove the tariffs, fines, or other penalties.
According to the original measure, the president may suspend the penalties in specific situations but promptly reinstate them if the infractions continued. According to Graham, the president has the authority to suspend the sanctions for a period of 180 days and to extend it.
However, Congress would eventually examine the president’s decision. Congress would need to vote in order to revoke the president’s waiver. Graham stated that it would have to pass the Senate’s high hurdle of 60 votes. That is frequently hard to get to in the confined space.
Unless something crazy happens, that won’t happen, he said.
The senators clarified that their bill’s waiver provision is typical and comparable to that found in previous laws. However, the legislation keeps changing because of the president’s insistence on having complete waiver authority and Congress’s need for its own backstop.
An ongoing project
John Thune, the Senate majority leader, stated last week that he intends to move the bill ahead prior to the August congressional recess. Additionally, House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that he is prepared to take action in his chamber.
The GOP leader noted that the sanctions package is still a work in progress as the White House participates in the process, despite Thune’s assertion that it has strong bipartisan support.
We are collaborating with the House and the administration to attempt to get it ready, he stated. He stated that it is still somewhat uncertain if that will occur in the upcoming weeks. However, I hope we can.
The law, according to Graham and Blumenthal, would also dissuade China and limit its aspirations in Taiwan. Graham claimed that the prospect of such a severe economic blow for its backing of Russia was a test run for Taiwan.
According to Blumenthal, the other crucial lesson for China is that a small nation may prevail even if it is outgunned and outmanned.
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Jalonick and Mascaro provided updates from Washington.
