CNN: Trump ready to back Russia sanctions bill introduced by Senator Graham

US President Donald Trump is ready to support the adoption of a bipartisan bill imposing sanctions on Russia, which was introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham.

Source: CNN, citing a White House official

Details: Trump is reported to have backed the bill just a few days after the unexpected death of Senator Lindsey Graham. According to CNN, this is likely to further ease the passage of the legislation, which Graham had worked on for many years in an effort to secure its final approval.

Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said earlier that the Trump administration was prepared to support the sanctions package. They announced on Friday 10 July that they had reached an agreement following lengthy negotiations. However, it remained unclear then whether Trump himself would back the bill, as he had repeatedly criticised it and insisted on having broader powers to impose sanctions independently.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said earlier on Monday 13 July that the White House had worked closely with Graham on the legislation and expressed hope that it would be successfully passed.

Quote from Thune: "It'll take Democrats and Republicans here in the Senate to do that, but I'm hopeful we can make it happen."

Details: Thune said during the final days of Graham's life, the sanctions package had been "the thing that he cared the most about in terms of an accomplishment, and it would certainly be an incredible legacy for him".

Meanwhile, Blumenthal said he plans to discuss with Senate leadership in the near future how to finalise the legislation and find a new Republican co-sponsor following Graham's death.

According to CNN, the bill would give Trump the authority to impose steep tariffs on imports from countries that purchase Russian oil, natural gas and uranium, with the aim of increasing economic pressure on Russia over its war against Ukraine.

Background:

• Lindsey Graham, who served for many years as the Republican senator for South Carolina, died on 11 July.
• On 10 July, Graham visited Ukraine, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as did Michael McCaul, chairman emeritus of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• On the same day, Graham announced that an agreement had been reached with the White House on the final version of the Russia sanctions bill.

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