Russia sanctions gearing up in Senate, as Ukraine peace agreement deadline narrows to merely 10 days, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune from South Dakota puts Russia sanctions bill on the table if a ceasefire with Ukraine isn't established by the week's end, provided President Trump gives his approval. Thune expressed optimism about the bill, which has been introduced, in an exclusive...

, and ASMedia

2025 September 2 . 7:42 AM

2 min read

Senate Leader John Thune preparing Russia sanctions as Ukraine truce deadline narrows to ten days

Russia sanctions gearing up in Senate, as Ukraine peace agreement deadline narrows to merely 10 days, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune

In the midst of a 41-month-old conflict between Ukraine and Russia, a bill aiming to impose stringent sanctions on Moscow has remained a prominent but pending legislative effort. The Sanctioning Russia Act, introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in April 2025, has garnered more than 80 cosponsors but has yet to be enacted into law.

The bill proposes aggressive economic sanctions to pressure Russia, including high tariffs on third-party countries trading with Russia's oil, gas, uranium, and petrochemical products. If passed, these tariffs could potentially amount to an embargo, significantly impacting Russia's economy and war machine.

Key players in the US Senate have expressed hope that the bill will advance. Senator John Thune (R-SD) believes that the legislation will give President Trump more leverage to end the conflict, while Graham continues to push for its advancement. However, the bill's progress has been stalled partly due to President Trump's ambivalence and Republican leadership's caution.

President Trump has not yet determined whether to impose additional sanctions on Russia or secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian energy. During a Monday press conference, he stated, "I'm not so interested in talking anymore" about the conflict. However, Trump has expressed disappointment with Putin and stated, "I'm disappointed in him, I must be honest with you."

Thune is hopeful that Trump will give the green light for the sanctions bill, as it would give him added credibility and weight in negotiations. He believes that the bill would strengthen the US's hand in discussions and negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, which have been happier without the threat of a sanctions bill coming from Congress.

If the bill is passed, a 500% tariff would be imposed on Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products. Graham has stated that China, India, and Brazil buy about 80% of cheap Russian oil, and that this tariff would significantly impact Putin's war machine.

Despite diplomatic efforts, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has not made any progress towards resolution. At least three summits have been held in Turkey in recent months, but no cease-fire has been reached. President Trump has stated that "very bad things have happened" after conversations with Putin, and he has felt that they had the conflict resolved multiple times.

As the Senate prepares to resume in September, the bill's fate could be revisited. If President Trump decides to take unilateral action to impose sanctions on Russia, the House and Senate are ready to move if asked to apply harsher penalties. The ongoing conflict and the status of the Sanctioning Russia Act continue to be a topic of interest and concern for both domestic and international audiences.