Speaker Johnson: Congress Wants to Sanction Russia, ‘As Strongly As We Can’

The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, told reporters on Monday that he advocates increased sanctions on Russia.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R–SC) is the author of a Senate bill that would greatly increase tariffs on any country that buys sanctioned Russian oil, gas, coal, or uranium. The bill has strong support in the Senate, and in remarks given in Kyiv last week, Graham said to expect that the “Senate will start moving on the sanctions bill” within a week.

When asked about support in the House for Graham’s bill, the speaker said, “There’s many members of Congress that want us to sanction Russia as strongly as we can – and I’m an advocate of that,”  Johnson told reporters on Monday, according to the NY Post.

Speaker Mike Johnson has had a complicated history with Ukraine. After the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October 2023, Johnson emerged as an unlikely candidate for Speaker of the House. Johnson presided over a 6-month delay in the supplemental aid package for Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel that was due to be passed in 2023, under pressure from MAGA conservatives and then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, who opposed further aid to Ukraine.

While ammunition and supplies dwindled in early 2024, Johnson became the primary obstacle to passing the funding for Ukraine, before finally relenting in April 2024. Johnson credited his change of heart to his Christian faith, reports from the intelligence community, and pressure from fellow congressmen, like Michael McCaul (R – TX).

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“I really do believe the intel. I think that Vladimir Putin would continue to march through Europe if he were allowed. I think he might go to the Baltics next. I think he might have a showdown with Poland, or one of our NATO allies,” Johnson told reporters – NY Times.

The re-election of President Trump in November 2024 decreased the likelihood of another supplemental aid package for Ukraine, and in February, Johnson poured cold water on more funds for Kyiv.

At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, reporters asked Johnson about further funds for Ukraine. “There’s no appetite for that,” Johnson told Newsmax during the conference, “We have to bring (the war) to an end. And I can tell you that our European allies understand the necessity as well. It’s (dragged) on too long,” said the Speaker.

Johnson’s most recent comments are a positive sign for Ukraine, as it seeks to increase pressure on Russia. The Senate bill has 81 cosponsors, but it is unclear how much support the bill currently has in the House, where prominent Ukraine critics such as Marjorie Taylor Greene (R–GA), Scott Perry (R–PA), or Thomas Massie (R–KY) oppose the bill. For the bill to pass, it will almost certainly require support from House Democrats, a further political liability for Johnson. Republicans currently hold a slim lead of 220 in the US House of Representatives, compared to democrats’ 212 seats. 

The real question is whether President Trump would veto the effort if Congress sent him a bill. Under the US Constitution, Congress can override a veto only with a two-thirds majority. This would require 290 votes in the House and 67 votes in the Senate. 

President Trump has signaled increasing impatience with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but has said he would like more time before deciding to increase pressure on the Kremlin.