US Congress set to defy Trump as he is AGAIN Conned by Putin
A rare bipartisan front is emerging in the U.S. Senate as lawmakers advance the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025—a sweeping sanctions package designed to hold the Kremlin accountable for ongoing aggression in Ukraine. With 81 senators now backing the legislation, the bill inches toward a veto-proof majority, sending a clear signal that Capitol Hill is prepared to confront Russia—even if President Donald Trump is not.
Introduced by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the bill would impose primary and secondary sanctions on Russia should it refuse to engage in good-faith negotiations or violate Ukraine’s sovereignty in any post-war arrangement.
In a public statement on May 21, Graham warned that “if Putin isn’t serious about peace, these games continue at his peril”—a thinly veiled rebuke of the Trump administration’s softer approach.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has sought a negotiated ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, reportedly engaging directly with both leaders. But the talks, including a May 17 summit in Istanbul, collapsed after Russia demanded Ukrainian troop withdrawals from its own territory. European leaders condemned the conditions as absurd. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called instead for a tougher sanctions regime—echoing the Senate’s push.
Graham’s challenge to Trump does not stand alone. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a reliable Trump ally, has also signed on to the bill. This growing list of backers reveals deep unease within both parties over Trump’s Russia policy—and the extent to which Congress is willing to reassert its authority on foreign policy.
Public opinion supports that direction. According to a new Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll released in May, 62% of Americans believe the U.S. should continue providing weapons to Ukraine and maintaining sanctions on Russia. That includes 71% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans—clear evidence of bipartisan consensus at the grassroots level. Additionally, 64% support offering Ukraine direct U.S. security guarantees if Kyiv is forced to make territorial concessions as part of a peace deal.
This alignment between Capitol Hill and public sentiment adds weight to the sanctions push. Unlike Trump’s back-channel diplomacy, the sanctions bill offers a formal mechanism to pressure the Kremlin economically while reinforcing U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The bill targets not only Russian state entities but also foreign firms aiding Moscow’s war economy. Secondary sanctions—modeled on those used against Iran—could hit Chinese and Indian firms helping Russia bypass Western restrictions, further isolating the Kremlin’s war machine.
While the White House remains publicly committed to ceasefire diplomacy, the growing momentum behind the Sanctioning Russia Act suggests that Congress may ultimately set the terms.