The Trump administration is preparing to support legislation aimed at penalizing Russian oil and gas exports, a revenue stream lawmakers say has helped finance Vladimir Putin’s prolonged and devastating war in Ukraine, a bipartisan group of senators said Friday.
The measure, first introduced last year by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), has drawn backing from more than 80 senators. Even so, it has remained stalled on Capitol Hill as President Trump has continued pursuing a negotiated end to the four-year conflict.
“We are proud to announce that we have reached an agreement with the Trump Administration to move our updated Russia sanctions legislation forward,” Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Graham said in a joint statement.
The senators called the development a major step, saying they expect to unveil the updated bill soon. “As Russia intensifies its slaughter of civilians, it is imperative that the legislative and executive branches work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine,” they added.
The Senate may begin taking up the legislation as early as Monday, when lawmakers return from their post-Fourth of July recess.
In its original form, the Sanctioning Russia Act proposed a 500% tariff on countries that continue importing Russian energy, a key source of funding for the Kremlin’s military operations.
The specific revisions negotiated between lawmakers and the Trump administration have not yet been made public.
Graham, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv earlier Friday, said he has “never been more optimistic” that the war could be brought to an end.
“I’ve never been more optimistic than I am today that we have the formula to end this war; help Ukraine be more lethal; let those supporting Russia to know it’s going to be a price to be paid if you keep doing it; and to try to find an off-ramp, not to humiliate Putin, but to end this war so that Ukraine will thrive and survive,” Graham said, according to Ukrainian media.
The agreement with the White House on the sanctions bill text “means it’s going to become law,” Graham vowed.
The senator further indicated that the legislation is designed to reward countries that seek alternative energy sources.
Trump, who has signaled support for the sanctions bill on multiple previous occasions, met with Zelensky earlier this week at the NATO summit in Turkey and touted their relationship.
“We’ve actually developed a good relationship! Hard to believe, right? From the Oval Office to now,” the president said, referring to last year’s disastrous White House meeting.
Trump also told Zelensky he would grant Ukraine a license to make critically needed Patriot air-defense missiles.
The White House did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
