House Speaker Mike Johnson joined the ranks of lawmakers on Wednesday pushing for increased sanctions on Russia. He criticized Moscow’s leader, Vladimir Putin, for his persistent refusal to cease the invasion of Ukraine.
“I don’t know any details yet but I know there’s an interest in that in the House side, so we’ll have to see,” Johnson told reporters.
“Vladimir Putin has demonstrated an unwillingness to act reasonably or engage in serious peace negotiations, and I believe we must convey a strong message to him — that’s my stance.”
The proposed sanctions bill, led by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), seeks to impose a 500% tariff on nations importing energy from Russia. This energy trade provides significant funding for the Kremlin’s military operations.
On the Senate side, Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said he hoped the sanctions measure could clear Congress before its monthlong August recess.
Graham has claimed that Trump “told me it’s time to move, so we’re going to move” on the sanctions package.
However, the president has been less supportive in his public remarks.
“It’s an optional bill. It’s totally at my option,” Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting Tuesday.
Privately, White House officials have raised concerns that the sanctions package undercut the president’s power to steer foreign policy.
Among the points of contention are an initial draft of the bill that would have permitted Trump to give countries a 180-day waiver to pursue uranium or oil from Russia.
Now the bill includes the option of a second waiver, the issuance of which would require some sort of congressional input.
“The current version would subject the president’s foreign policy decisions to micromanagement by Congress through a joint resolution of disapproval process,” an administration official complained to Politico about the legislation.
“That’s a nonstarter for us,” the official added. “The administration is not going to be micromanaged by the Congress on the president’s foreign policy. The bill needs a waiver authority that is complete.”
The renewed sanctions push comes as Russia has continued to punish Ukraine with record-shattering drone and missile bombardments, including in civilian areas.
Tuesday night, a volley of attacks rocked parts of central and western Ukraine, even as Trump continues to rage against Putin.
“I’ve been sort of letting people know I’m not happy about what’s going on. It’s a war that should have never happened,” the president lamented Wednesday. “Young souls are dead and dying, and it should be stopped. It should be stopped. Very sad to see what’s happening.”
On Tuesday, Trump vented that ” get a lot of bulls— thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
The president also expressed openness to sending Ukraine Patriot missiles and air-defense systems to counter Russian attacks — after publicly reversing a shipment freeze implemented by the Pentagon.
“They would like it. They’ve asked for it. They’re very rare indeed, you know, because a lot of systems have been sent to Ukraine, but they would like to, I know they made the request,” he said.
“We’re gonna have to take a look at it,” Trump continued. “When you talk about a system like that, highly sophisticated, tremendous amount of money, and they’re doing it because they want to prevent death, they’re getting hit hard, very hard. So we’re looking at it.”
In April of last year, Johnson helped pass a $95 billion foreign aid package that included $60.8 billion for Ukraine.
Far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) later brought up a motion to oust the Louisianan from the speakership, but Johnson survived thanks to help from Democrats.
