Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
Amid another round of meetings between Trump’s special envoy and President Putin, some US lawmakers are calling on the administration to take a tougher stance against Russia.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for a high-level, three-hour discussion aimed at advancing a potential US-brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting, described by Kremlin officials as “constructive,” focused heavily on reopening direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv—talks that have been dormant since the early phase of the war. At the center of the proposed ceasefire framework is a controversial arrangement that would involve Ukraine formally renouncing its bid to join NATO and recognizing Russia’s control over Crimea in exchange for a cessation of hostilities and a phased withdrawal of Russian forces. While the Kremlin signaled cautious optimism, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the proposal, publicly reiterating that Ukraine would never accept territorial concessions or compromise its sovereignty. Zelensky says that such terms violate the Ukrainian Constitution and dismissed the idea of peace at the expense of national integrity.
What’s going on now: In response to news coming from the Putin-Witkoff meeting, multiple US lawmakers have come out strongly against any perceived softening toward Russia, urging the Trump administration to adopt a more forceful posture. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the most senior Republican in the Senate, issued a scathing rebuke on social media following renewed Russian strikes on Kyiv, writing: “I’VE SEEN ENOUGH KILLING OF INNOCENT UKRAINIAN women + children. President Trump please put the toughest of sanctions on Putin. You ought to see from clear evidence that he is playing America as a patsy.”
Grassley’s post came just hours after a Russian drone strike killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more in Ukraine’s capital, deepening frustration among GOP leaders.
Adding to the pressure, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has introduced a new bipartisan bill aimed at expanding sanctions on Russia. The legislation seeks to impose “comprehensive sanctions on Russian banks, energy exports, and key oligarchs” if Russia fails to make verifiable steps toward ending the war. According to a statement released by Graham’s office, the bill includes measures to freeze Russian sovereign assets in the US, block transactions with key sectors of the Russian economy, and cut off Russian access to advanced US technology. “Putin needs to feel real pain for the destruction he’s causing, and this bill sends a clear message: There will be no rewards for aggression,” Graham said in a floor speech.
The bill is gaining traction in the Senate, with support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers who fear the administration may be inching toward a deal that compromises Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who co-sponsored the bill, said: “We need to deter future autocrats by ensuring that this one pays a price.” The legislation is expected to move to committee review next week, with leadership signaling openness to fast-tracking it if diplomatic overtures to Russia continue without firm Ukrainian backing.
