Overview
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune said consideration of the Russia sanctions package will wait until after the planned in-person meeting between the two leaders.
- Thune noted that Lindsey Graham is coordinating with the White House to judge whether the upcoming talks will be productive before advancing the measure.
- The proposal has drawn more than 80 co-sponsors in the Senate, with a House companion backed by over 100 members.
- Under the draft, countries that keep importing Russian oil, gas, or uranium would face 500% tariffs, with a limited national-security waiver available to the president.
- Republican leadership has been reluctant to proceed without Trump's explicit endorsement, and a source told Politico the bill is effectively on ice until after the summit in Budapest.