Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday left the door open to holding a vote on a invoice to sanction Russia over its years-long battle towards Ukraine.
His feedback got here shortly after Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) indicated the Senate may vote on a Russia sanctions invoice — led by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) — by the tip of the month, and after President Trump mentioned on Tuesday that he was trying on the laws “very strongly.”
“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 informed reporters within the Capitol when requested in regards to the Senate invoice.
“Vladimir Putin has shown an unwillingness to be reasonable and to talk seriously about brokering a peace, and I think we have to send them a message, that’s my view,” he added.
Johnson had beforehand backed penalizing Russia because the battle drags on, telling reporters final month: “There’s many members of Congress that want us to sanction Russia as strongly as we can … and I’m an advocate of that.”
However his feedback on Wednesday put the Senate’s invoice, which is veto-proof with greater than 80 co-sponsors, on a possible path to President Trump’s desk.
Thune on Wednesday mentioned the higher chamber has made “substantial progress” on the Russia sanctions invoice, including that it might be able to hit the ground within the coming weeks.
“We’ve also made substantial progress on Graham’s overwhelmingly bipartisan Russia sanctions legislation to enhance President Trump’s leverage at the negotiating table and to help end the bloodshed in Ukraine,” Thune mentioned on the Senate flooring. “And Mr. President, I fully expect that that could be ready for floor consideration as early as this work period.”
“Senate Republicans are committed to working with the House and the White House to get this legislation through Congress and on to the president’s desk,” he added.
Dialogue about passing the sanctions invoice is heating up as Trump turns into more and more aggravated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Final week, he mentioned he was “very disappointed” with a dialog he had with Moscow’s chief, including: “I don’t suppose he’s there.”
“I’m just saying, I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad,” Trump mentioned.
Trump for months has sought to dealer peace between Russia and Ukraine to no avail.
On Tuesday, he reversed a choice by the Pentagon final week to pause some arms shipments to Ukraine, saying he needed to arm Kyiv with “defensive weapons because Putin is not treating human beings right.” He additionally mentioned he didn’t know who on the Pentagon selected the pause.
Graham mentioned the Senate invoice features a presidential waiver, which might give Trump extra authority over the sanctions. He additionally famous that the Senate will look to penalize China, India and different international locations “that buy Russian energy products that finance Putin’s war machine.”
Assist for Ukraine has been a prickly topic within the Home GOP convention since Moscow launched its offensive in February 2022, with quite a few hard-line conservatives vocally towards sending extra cash and help to Kyiv.
In April 2024, nonetheless, Johnson oversaw the passage of roughly $61 billion in assist for Ukraine, a transfer that was celebrated by Kyiv’s supporters in each events.
