Overview
- House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republicans have a strong appetite for tough penalties and stand ready to use sanctions to pressure Moscow toward talks.
- Senate Republican leader John Thune said the bill will be brought to a vote when the administration deems it useful, noting 85 bipartisan co-sponsors.
- Thune confirmed the Senate paused work after President Trump’s Oct. 16 call with Vladimir Putin, following Trump’s view that now may not be the right moment.
- The proposal drafted in April by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal includes secondary sanctions and potential import tariffs of up to 500% on goods from countries buying Russian energy and other commodities.
- Some Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul, warn the plan could backfire on the United States economically and strategically.