The US Senate has delayed moving forward with a major sanctions bill against Russia and its trading partners after President Donald Trump said he is ready to take action on his own.
Senate Republican leader John Thune told Politico that Trump appears willing to handle part of the effort without Congress.
“It sounds like right now the president is going to attempt to do some of this on his own,” Thune told reporters.
“If at some point the president concludes that it makes sense and adds value and leverage that he needs in those negotiations to move the bill, then we’ll do it. We’ll be ready to go.”
On Monday, Trump delivered a long-awaited statement on Russia. He said that if no ceasefire deal is reached in Ukraine within 50 days, the US will impose 100% tariffs on Russian imports and those from countries helping Moscow economically.
“We’re going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don’t have a [Russia-Ukraine peace] deal within 50 days,” Trump said during a meeting on Monday with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. “Secondary tariffs are very, very powerful.”
Trump also announced that the United States and other NATO nations have agreed on new arms shipments to Ukraine, with other NATO members expected to cover the cost.
Thune said Trump’s latest remarks suggest the Senate may no longer need to pass the sanctions package. He added that lawmakers will continue working with the White House and the House of Representatives to coordinate strategy.
“We are going to try as best we can... coordinate strategies with the White House, obviously with the House,” Thune said. “So we will have it ready to go at a minute’s notice.”
The bill, introduced by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, calls for 500% tariffs on imports from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas or uranium – including China, India and Brazil. It had gained strong support in the Senate, with 85 members backing it.
Graham and Blumenthal welcomed Trump’s warning but said tariffs targeting Russia’s key trading partners – such as China, India and Brazil – are still the most powerful tool to end the war.
“[China, India and Brazil] prop up Putin’s war machine by purchasing cheap Russian oil and gas,” the senators said.