President Donald Trump and Sen. Lindsey Graham (Getty Images)
But the bill hit a snag at the White House, where Trump maintained that he wanted to continue peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, and also wanted more flexibility on the proposed penalties in the bill.
However, there’s been a tonal shift in Trump’s opinion of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Graham believes that Trump is now on board with the plan.
WHITE HOUSE TAKES INTEREST IN PROPOSED RUSSIAN SANCTIONS AS UKRAINE WAR PEACE TALKS DRAG ON
Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on June 17, 2025. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., wants to get the bill on the floor by the end of the month, and noted that the upper chamber was working in conjunction with the House and the White House to "get it in a form where it's ready."
Still, he said it was an "open question" as to when Graham and Blumenthal’s bill could get a vote.
"I think it's an important message to send, especially now, and I think it's leverage that we need," Thune said.
While the bill does have broad bipartisan support within the Senate, and the backing of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., not every Senate Republican is on board with the plan.
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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., charged that the measure was "not a Russian sanctions bill. It's a worldwide embargo tariff bill."
He argued that the bill would institute "500% tariffs" to any country that does business with Russia, and noted that there are a handful of European Union countries that are dependent on Russian oil and gas.
Paul also charged that slapping China with such a hefty sanction would lead to no more trade with the country.
"It's the worst, most economically illiterate bill ever to be presented in modern history," he said.
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/russia-sanctions-bill-gains-steam-white-house-appears-change-tone-putin