Graham announced in a post on the X platform that he obtained the president's consent to further proceed with his project during Wednesday's meeting with the president.
“It's a good moment because Ukraine is making concessions in the name of peace, and Putin only talks, still killing innocents. This bill would allow President Trump to punish countries that buy cheap Russian oil that fuels Putin's war machine” wrote the politician. He added that the bill would allow the president to put enormous pressure on countries such as China, India and Brazil to encourage them to stop buying Russian oil.
“I'm counting on a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week“- he added.
Already on Sunday, Trump signaled support for Graham's initiative, which, despite the support of 85 out of 100 senators, has been in the Senate committee since April last year. The lack of progress on the project was the result of Trump's lack of consent. Graham and other Republican politicians had previously announced several times that they had received the president's approval, but Trump later withdrew their support.
These are the assumptions of the project. Sanctions not only for Russia
The project provides for additional sanctions on Russia, including on oil companies, the banking sector and the “shadow fleet”, as well as tariffs of up to 500%. for goods from countries purchasing Russian raw materials. One of the tankers from the Russian “shadow fleet”, M/T Sophia, subject to sanctions under the Joe Biden administration, was seized on Wednesday by US forces in the Caribbean Sea as part of the blockade of Venezuela.
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What sanctions does the bill provide for?
Who announced the success of the sanctions bill?
When is the vote on the bill going to take place?
Which countries are to be subjected to pressure in connection with the purchase of Russian oil?
Back in December, politicians from both parties in the House of Representatives announced that they would force a vote on a similar, although amended, sanctions bill in January. The version in the House does not mention 500%. tariffs, but about mandatory sanctions. The new package would prohibit Americans from investing in Russia and concluding transactions with Russian entities, and would close a loophole in sanctions that allows the import of Russian oil processed by refineries in other countries, including in India.
When asked about the case by the Polish Press Agency on Wednesday, Democratic congressman Mike Quigley from the pro-Ukrainian parliamentary group Ukraine Caucus said that although in December he was optimistic about the chances of adopting the sanctions bill, now he is no longer optimistic.
— We are collecting signatures, I will do everything I can to make this happen, but I must admit that I am a pessimist – said the politician. However, this conversation took place before Graham's “green light” announcement.
