Trump still hopes to do business with Kremlin, even as number of Ukrainian civilians killed, including children, continues to grow each day
Some Republicans in the US Congress and White House advisers are pressuring US President Donald Trump, urging him to support new sanctions against Moscow, Reuters reports, citing its sources.
According to White House officials, Trump still hopes to develop an economic partnership with Russia. However, his aides say his frustration with Putin’s actions is genuine and growing.
US officials have already prepared a new package of economic sanctions against Russia, including measures targeting the banking and energy sectors. They say the sanctions are ready, all that’s needed is Trump’s go-ahead to implement them.
One option supported by some of Trump’s advisers is not to block a bill for “crushing sanctions” proposed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. The bill envisions 500% tariffs on imports from countries that buy Russian oil, petroleum products, natural gas, or uranium. Additionally, the sanctions would ban US citizens from purchasing Russian sovereign bonds.
Both chambers of Congress must approve identical versions of the bill before the president can sign it into law.
The same official and another person familiar with internal discussions said the White House believes secondary sanctions, which target countries doing business with Russia, not just Russia itself, are necessary for sanctions pressure to be truly effective.
