Trump Backs Graham–Blumenthal Russia Energy Sanctions Bill Amid GOP Procedural Fight
Sen. Lindsey Graham says President Donald Trump has now given him a clear 'greenlight' to move forward with a bipartisan Russia sanctions package he co‑authored with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, centered on steep tariffs on Russian oil, gas, uranium and other energy exports that are largely purchased by China and India. The legislation, which Graham stresses is meant to 'cripple Russia’s war machine,' had been kept on the back burner while the Trump administration tried to broker a controversial peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv that would have required Ukrainian territorial concessions and which Trump now blames Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for stalling. A White House official confirms Trump supports the bill, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune is insisting that, because it has major budgetary implications, any such sanctions/tariff package should originate in the House, leaving Speaker Mike Johnson to decide whether to move a House version—something he has not yet agreed to. The Senate is out this week and returns next week facing a looming partial government‑shutdown deadline over DHS funding, meaning floor time will be tight even if leadership resolves the fight over where the bill must start. The maneuvering underscores how Trump’s approach to Russia now couples back‑channel peace talks with a threat of severe energy‑sector tariffs, and how internal Republican disagreements over procedure could again delay a sanctions push that has broad bipartisan support on substance.
📌 Key Facts
- Trump has privately and publicly backed Graham and Blumenthal’s Russia sanctions bill, giving Graham what he calls a 'greenlight' to move it.
- The bill’s core mechanism is imposing large tariffs on Russian energy exports—oil, gas, uranium and other products—primarily targeting sales to China and India that make up nearly three‑quarters of Moscow’s energy business.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune argues that, due to its budget impact, the package should originate in the House, meaning Speaker Mike Johnson would have to introduce or move a similar measure before the Senate acts.
- The sanctions effort had been slowed while the Trump administration pursued a peace plan that would have required Ukrainian territorial concessions; Trump recently told Reuters he believes Putin is 'ready to make a deal' while Zelenskyy is 'less ready.'
- Congress returns next week focused on avoiding a partial government shutdown tied to DHS funding, leaving the Russia sanctions bill without a scheduled floor vote despite renewed White House support.
📊 Relevant Data
In November 2025, Russia's fossil fuel export revenues declined to EUR 489 million per day, the lowest level since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reflecting the impact of existing sanctions and weaker prices.
November 2025 — Monthly analysis of Russian fossil fuel exports and sanctions — Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
In November 2025, China accounted for 47% of Russia's crude oil exports, while India accounted for 38%, making these countries the primary buyers amid redirected trade flows from Europe.
November 2025 — Monthly analysis of Russian fossil fuel exports and sanctions — Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
Oil and gas revenues accounted for nearly one-third of Russia's federal budget inflows in 2025, underscoring the sector's critical role in funding government expenditures, including military operations.
The Russian economy in 2025: Between stagnation and militarization — Atlantic Council
Since the 2022 invasion, over 650,000 Russians have emigrated, representing a brain drain of high-skilled workers that exacerbates labor shortages and long-term economic challenges, driven by war mobilization and economic pressures from sanctions.
The great Russian brain drain — George W. Bush Presidential Center
In 2025, Russia's oil and gas revenues dropped to a five-year low, with cumulative revenues for the first eleven months estimated at $102 billion, a 22% decline from the prior year, constraining fiscal resources for the war in Ukraine.
Russia's Oil Revenues Are Falling Fast As Fiscal Pressure Mounts — Forbes
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