Washington: President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to support a sweeping new sanctions bill targeting countries that continue to trade with Russia, but only if the legislation gives him the final authority over how the measures are applied. The White House confirmed on Monday that Trump’s approval depends on clear language ensuring that the president, not Congress, controls the timing and enforcement of the sanctions.
The bill, drafted by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, seeks to increase pressure on Moscow by targeting nations that buy Russian energy and other key exports. Lawmakers behind the proposal say the goal is to reduce the flow of money that helps Russia continue its military campaign in Ukraine.
A senior White House official said Trump is not opposed to tougher measures on Russia, but he does not want Congress to limit his ability to negotiate with foreign governments. The official explained that Trump wants the power to decide when to activate sanctions, when to pause them, and when to offer exemptions based on national interests or ongoing diplomatic talks.
Trump also suggested that the bill could be expanded to include measures against Iran, which Washington accuses of supporting armed groups across the Middle East. The idea drew interest from some Republican lawmakers, who have been urging the administration to take a harder stance on Tehran.
The push for a new sanctions package had been stalled in recent weeks as lawmakers waited for a clear signal from the president. Trump has repeatedly said he prefers using tariffs as bargaining tools, such as those he recently proposed on imports from India, and some members of Congress were unsure whether he would back a broad sanctions effort.
Following the White House statement, Senate leaders said they are now preparing to move the bill to the next stage. Senator Graham described the proposal as an essential step to pressure Russia to negotiate seriously in the Ukraine conflict. He said the bill would send a message that countries choosing to trade with Moscow despite the war will face consequences from Washington.
The Kremlin reacted cautiously to the developments in the United States. Russian officials said they hoped upcoming discussions between President Vladimir Putin and Trump would help ease tensions, but warned that additional sanctions would be viewed as unfriendly and harmful. Moscow is also watching closely how the United States plans to target countries that buy Russian oil, including major customers in Asia.
If passed, the sanctions could have far reaching global effects. Countries such as India and China, which purchase large amounts of Russian oil, may face pressure to change their buying patterns or seek exemptions from Washington. Analysts say this could shift global energy flows and create uncertainty in the oil market.
Diplomats in Europe and Asia are also assessing how the bill may affect their own trade relationships with Russia. Some US allies have already restricted Russian energy imports, while others still depend on them to meet domestic needs.
In Washington, the debate highlights a continuing struggle between Congress and the executive branch over control of foreign policy. Lawmakers want strong, automatic sanctions that cannot be easily delayed, while Trump insists on flexibility to manage international negotiations.
Members of Congress say they expect further discussions with the White House in the coming days to clarify the final structure of the bill. For now, Trump’s conditional support has revived momentum behind the sanctions effort, setting the stage for a critical debate on America’s next steps in confronting Russia.