Senate puts Russia sanctions bill on hold
Photo: Republican Senator John Thune (flickr by Gage Skidmore)
Senate Republican Leader John Thune will delay advancing the bill on sanctions against Russia, according to Politico.
Thune said that US President Donald Trump had earlier expressed readiness to act if Vladimir Putin fails to take steps toward a peace agreement with Ukraine.
Thune concluded that the American president wants to try to handle the situation on his own.
"If at some point the president concludes that it makes sense and adds value and leverage that he needs in those negotiations to move the bill, then we’ll do it. We’ll be ready to go," he stated.
Trump's shifting approach to Russia
Recently, President Trump has changed his rhetoric toward Putin amid Russia’s ongoing large-scale strikes on Ukraine.
On Tuesday, July 8, Trump said that Putin is "feeding him total nonsense" and added that he is "very seriously considering" the sanctions bill proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham.
Trump also promised Putin a surprise, giving him a 50-day deadline to agree to a peace deal. Otherwise, the US president threatened the Kremlin with 100% tariffs.
More details on Trump’s evolving stance toward Putin and Russia can be found in RBC-Ukraine’s in-depth report.
