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Trump Greenlights New Russia Sanctions as Bipartisan Bill Targets Oil Buyers
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
US Senator Lindsey Graham said President Donald Trump has given the green light to a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia, marking a potential escalation in Washington’s economic pressure campaign, Graham wrote on X on January 8.
According to the senator, the legislation has been months in the making and was developed jointly with Senator Richard Blumenthal and a group of bipartisan lawmakers.
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“After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others,” Graham said.
Graham argued the timing of the move is deliberate, saying Ukraine has taken steps toward peace while Moscow has failed to do the same.
“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent,” he added.
After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 7, 2026
This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace…
The proposed legislation would also empower the White House to target countries that continue purchasing discounted Russian oil, which Graham said is sustaining Moscow’s war effort.
“This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine,” he said.
Graham emphasized that the sanctions package would give Trump significant leverage over major economies still importing Russian energy.
“This bill would give President Trump tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil to incentivize them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that provides the financing for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine,” he said.
Graham said he expects the bill to advance quickly through the Senate.
“I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week.”
Earlier, US forces seized the Russian-operated oil tanker M/T Sophia in the Caribbean Sea, marking the second interdiction of a sanctioned vessel within hours.
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