WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Tuesday that he believes President Donald Trump is prepared to “crush” Russia’s economy with a new wave of sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the coming weeks.

Republican insists sanctions could become necessary to punish Kremlin leader for snubbing diplomatic discussions on ending Ukraine war

Several U.S. senators pushed for more sanctions aimed at hurting Russia in order to force a peace deal with Ukraine ahead of Monday’s meeting. “Monday’s Big Power meeting should resolve to shut the spigot of oil & gas revenues—sending Putin’s tottering economy spiraling down,

President Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham threatened to champion bipartisan legislation designating Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over the kidnappings of Ukrainian children unless Moscow returns them.

Senator Lindsey Graham is considering pushing for bipartisan legislation to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism if they don't return Ukrainian children reportedly abducted during the war.

Graham said he has coordinated with the White House on the Russia sanctions bill — the “Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025” — which has around 80 co-sponsors and bipartisan support.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called for swift action against Russia on Thursday in response to its invasion of Ukraine, warning that “time is not on our side.” “When it comes to sanctions ...

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, called for sanctions targeting Russia's oil and gas industry, which makes up about 36% of its revenue.

For years, Donald Trump criticized presidents for empty threats. He often pointed to then-President Barack Obama failing to enforce his “red line” on Syria using chemical weapons. During his first term in 2017, Trump called it a “blank threat” that cost us “in many other parts of the world.”