Trump ready to back Graham's 'bone-crushing' sanctions against Russia, CNN says

According to a White House official who spoke to CNN, US President Donald Trump's decision could significantly accelerate the bill's progress. Graham had worked on the legislation for several years.

Last week, Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said that, after lengthy negotiations, the Trump administration had agreed to support the bill. At the time, however, it remained unclear whether Trump himself would support it, as he had previously insisted on broader presidential authority over imposing sanctions.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the White House had worked closely with Graham to prepare the bill.

"It’ll take Democrats and Republicans here in the Senate to do that, but I’m hopeful we can make it happen," Thune said.

According to Thune, the bill was one of Graham's most important achievements in recent years and could become his political legacy.

Blumenthal, meanwhile, said he plans to discuss with Senate leadership in the coming days how to finalize the legislation and find a new Republican co-sponsor following Graham's death.

The sanctions package would give Trump the authority to impose steep tariffs on imports from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, uranium, and natural gas, with the aim of further weakening Moscow amid its war against Ukraine.

"It should be seen as a fitting tribute to Senator Graham to do it quickly in his memory. It’s exactly what we were talking about when I last spoke to him over the weekend," Blumenthal said.

As previously reported, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham died on the evening of July 11 after a brief, sudden illness.

A day earlier, during a visit to Kyiv, Graham said the sanctions bill he had drafted would provide US President Donald Trump with additional tools to help bring the war in Ukraine to an end as quickly as possible.