US Senate expected to delay vote on Russia sanctions bill after Trump tariff threat

A bipartisan bill aimed at tightening US sanctions on Russia is expected to be delayed in the Senate following President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariff threats against countries supporting Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.

Trump on Monday warned that if no peace agreement is reached within 50 days, his administration would impose steep tariffs on Russia’s trading partners. The move, he said, is designed to exert maximum pressure on the Kremlin and its global economic allies.

In response, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that the president intended to act unilaterally and may not require additional legislation at this stage. "If he needs more leverage, he’s ready to use it," Thune said.

The sanctions bill, co-authored by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, had drawn strong bipartisan support with more than 80 co-sponsors. It proposes allowing the president to impose a 500% tariff on imports from any country that continues to trade with Russia - including China, India, and Brazil.

Senator Graham argued that such countries were “fueling Putin’s war machine” by purchasing discounted Russian oil and other goods, enabling Moscow to sustain its invasion of Ukraine.

However, after Trump’s aggressive announcement, both Senate and House Republican leaders signaled that the legislation might now be unnecessary. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise echoed Thune’s position, saying there are no immediate plans to advance the bill before the summer recess. "Not now," Scalise said when asked whether a July vote was likely.

Despite the delay, Senators Graham and Blumenthal welcomed Trump’s hardline stance. They praised the proposed tariffs and the president’s commitment to increasing arms sales to NATO allies supporting Ukraine.

Still, the senators insist that tariffs on Russian trading partners remain the most effective strategy to weaken Moscow’s war capabilities, particularly by targeting countries that provide economic lifelines to the Kremlin.