Overview
- After a Jan. 7 White House meeting, Sen. Lindsey Graham said President Trump gave the green light to a Russia sanctions package, with a Senate vote possible as early as next week.
- The legislation would impose secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil and gas, naming China, India, and Brazil among likely targets.
- Co-authored with Democrat Richard Blumenthal, the measure has stalled for months despite broad bipartisan support in the Senate.
- The White House did not immediately comment on Graham’s statement, while talks have included giving the president greater flexibility over how sanctions are applied.
- Separately on Jan. 7, U.S. authorities announced the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after a weeks-long pursuit.