Majority of US Senate now on board to inflict bone crushing sanctions against Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump’s ally, Senator Lindsey Graham, says he is ready to push through “bone-crushing” sanctions on Russia, along with 72 other senators, if Vladimir Putin continues to stall on negotiations.

“The goal is to help the president,” Graham told reporters. His comments came on the same day the U.S. and Ukraine signed a new agreement granting the U.S. access to Ukrainian natural resources—a move intended to reassure Kyiv amid concerns that Trump might retreat from supporting peace talks with Moscow.

According to a draft of the legislation obtained by Bloomberg News, the proposed measures include a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas, petroleum products, or uranium. The bill would also prohibit U.S. citizens from purchasing Russian sovereign debt.

“He talked about being frustrated,” Graham said of Trump. “I want a negotiated end to the war—honorably and justly. I think Trump is the best person to achieve that, but these sanctions represent the Senate’s belief that Russia is the main aggressor.”

Graham warned that Putin would be making “a huge mistake” if he tried to manipulate Trump. “This bill is a tool in President Trump’s toolbox,” he said. “When Trump decides we’ve hit an impasse, then watch for action.”

He also claimed to have sufficient support in the House of Representatives to bring the bill to a vote.

Graham predicted that Putin would eventually be forced to choose: sit down with Trump to negotiate peace, or watch Russia’s economy be “crushed.”