Lindsey Graham urges stronger pressure on Russia and transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine
Photo: Lindsey Graham (Getty Images)
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has urged Washington to adopt a much tougher stance toward Moscow if the Kremlin refuses a peaceful settlement of the war against Ukraine, according to NBC News.
Lindsey Graham said current diplomatic efforts are failing and that Vladimir Putin continues to ignore proposals to halt hostilities.
He argued that if Moscow again rejects a peace deal, US President Donald Trump should take more radical steps. These would include not only expanding sanctions pressure but also significantly increasing military assistance to Ukraine to strengthen its defensive capabilities, including the possible transfer of Tomahawk missiles to enable strikes against Russian missile and drone production facilities.
Graham also backed legislative initiatives to impose steep tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, and tighten oversight of tankers transporting sanctioned Russian crude.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
Separately, Graham stressed that any peace agreement must include mechanisms to prevent a повторення of Russian aggression. In his view, this requires clear and credible security guarantees for Ukraine, including long-term commitments from Western partners.
He expressed support for deploying a European military contingent in Ukraine as a deterrent and warned that without stronger US pressure, Putin would continue attempts to seize additional territory, particularly in eastern Ukraine.
Sanctions legislation against Russia
Earlier this summer, Graham prepared legislation proposing the most extensive sanctions against Russia since the start of the war, including 500% tariffs on all Russian-origin goods and similar duties on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, coal, and petroleum products.
In late November, Reuters reported that Trump was prepared to sign the bill provided he retained final decision-making authority over its implementation.
Additionally, in September, Axios reported that several senators, including Graham, drafted legislation to designate Russia and Belarus as state sponsors of terrorism if they fail to return Ukrainian children taken during the war.
