Senate Republicans warn Russia: Sanctions are coming if Putin won’t talk ceasefire

Senate Republicans are warning Russia that economic punishment is definitely on the way if President Vladimir Putin refuses to sit down for a ceasefire with Ukraine, or breaks a future deal.

This threat came on Thursday, according to Bloomberg, as GOP lawmakers made it clear they’re ready to go around the Trump White House if they have to.

Over 80 senators already back the bill. It includes new financial penalties that hit countries still doing business with Russia, and it bans Americans from buying Russian government bonds.

But the White House is still worried that fresh sanctions could scare Putin away from the table. So now, Capitol Hill is waiting to see what Moscow does next.

Lindsey Graham demands action as Trump backs off

Lindsey Graham, the Republican from South Carolina who wrote the bill, told reporters he plans to act fast. “We are waiting to see what Russia does this coming week,” he said. “If we can get a ceasefire and negotiations, great. We’ll wait. But if Putin keeps playing games, we are going to move.”

John Thune, the Senate GOP leader, said the chamber is ready to work with the Trump administration to add pressure. He warned that if Russia refuses to negotiate in good faith, the Senate will move ahead with more sanctions “to force Putin to start negotiating.” The bill would slap a 500% tariff on imports from any nation that buys Russian oil, gas, or uranium.

Meanwhile, a recent phone call between Donald Trump and Putin didn’t go well. The two leaders talked for over two hours on Monday, but nothing concrete came from it. Instead of progress, the call ended with the US pulling back from more direct involvement. That hesitation is now being tested by Republicans in Congress, who believe pressure is the only way to get Moscow to talk.

Marco Rubio, who now serves as Secretary of State, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that pushing Russia too hard might ruin chances of diplomacy. “If you start threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking,” Rubio said. “And there’s value in us being able to talk to them and drive them to get to the table.”

While Rubio was warning against moving too fast, the European Union was doing the opposite. On the same day, the EU passed its newest package of penalties aimed at nearly 200 ships that have helped Russia dodge energy trade restrictions.

House Republicans could stall sanctions unless forced

The bill still needs to clear the House, where Trump’s grip is tighter. Republican leadership there usually aligns with the White House, and if Trump doesn’t support the sanctions, the bill might be blocked. Graham admitted that backers may need to override leadership by forcing a floor vote, something that’s time-consuming but possible.

Matthew Whitaker, the US ambassador to NATO, said he expects cooperation between the White House and Congress. “I fully expect that that will be hand in glove and hopefully advance the peace process ultimately,” Whitaker said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.

Despite Trump’s personal efforts, Russia has made no serious move toward peace. Officials in Washington and Kyiv say Putin has staged what they call “performative ceasefires,” without ever committing to real talks. Trump has tried multiple times to push Putin into negotiations, but none of those attempts have worked.

Instead, intelligence suggests that Russia is planning a new military campaign this summer. The goal is to strengthen its hold on parts of southern and eastern Ukraine. If it succeeds, that could give Putin more control in any future negotiations.

But back in Russia, the pressure is building. The country’s weapons stockpiles are shrinking. Old tanks, artillery, and other gear from the Soviet era are expected to run out by fall, leaving the Kremlin dependent on what it can build now, which is not enough to keep up with battlefield losses.

Jack Watling, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, warned that Russia will try to step up its attacks this year to gain ground before negotiations. But he said the country can’t keep that up forever. “Russia will seek to intensify offensive operations to build pressure during negotiations, but the pressure cannot be sustained indefinitely,” Watling said.

He added that Russia might manage to fight two more campaign seasons with its current recruitment system. But continuing deeper into 2026 would require forced mobilisation. That, Watling said, comes with both political and economic risks that Putin may not be ready to handle.

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