“If Russia isn’t willing to engage in serious diplomacy, the Senate will work with the Trump administration to consider further sanctions to force Putin to negotiate,” Thune said on May 22, as reported by Axios.
At the same time, Thune’s warning seems to contradict the policy of Donald Trump’s administration. Days ago, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated during a congressional hearing that “if they begin threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking.”
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said lawmakers could consider the legislation as soon as next week.
“We must make it very clear to Vladimir Putin that we are going to increase pressure on Russia to force them to sit down at the negotiating table to resolve the war in Ukraine,” she said.
Earlier on May 22, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) noted that they had already prepared a bill that would impose new sanctions on Russia and levy 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil.