US Senate may work on Russia sanctions bill this month: Majority leader

WASHINGTON

The US Senate may begin work this month on a bill that would impose tough sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine, Majority Leader John Thune said Monday.

"Another item high on our list to begin work on in June is a rescissions package the White House intends to send to Congress this week…We also stand ready to provide President (Donald) Trump with any tools he needs to get Russia to finally come to the table in a real way," Thune said on the Senate floor.

Thune said Trump has invested "considerable time" in working to end the bloodshed in Ukraine.

"But (Russian President) Vladimir Putin appears more interested in prolonging the war than in pursuing peace," he added.

Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal introduced a bill titled the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 on April 1 that would impose a 500% tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products.

Previously, Graham said the upper chamber is ready to move on the sanctions front if Russia "continues to play games."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that he backs moving a bipartisan Russia sanctions package as fighting escalates in the region.

"The best thing Trump can do to strengthen Ukraine’s hand is show that America stands firmly with them, squarely against Putin.

"But Trump hasn’t done that. If Trump won’t stand up to Putin, the Senate must. That’s why I’m pushing to land a hammer-blow of sanctions on Russia in a tougher way than ever before," he said on X.