Putin must choose between negotiations or destruction of Russia’s economy — Senator Graham

Bloomberg reported the information.

According to the bill obtained by the publication, proposed sanctions include a 500% tariff on imports from countries buying Russian oil, petroleum products, natural gas, or uranium. Other measures would ban U.S. citizens from purchasing Russian sovereign debt.

Graham said the goal of the bill is to “help the president” (to Trump - ed.).

“He talked about being frustrated,” Graham said. “I want a negotiated end to the war, honorably and just. I think Trump’s the best person to achieve that goal, but these sanctions represent the Senate’s view that we see the primary bad guy being Russia,” the U.S. senator said.

Graham added that Russian leader Putin, “would be making a huge mistake to try to play Trump, so this bill is a tool in President Trump’s toolbox.”

“When President Trump believes that we’ve reached an impasse, then watch for action,” Graham emphasized.

He also said he has enough support in the House of Representatives to bring the sanctions bill to a vote there as well.

Graham suggested that Putin will eventually have to choose between sitting down with Trump and ending the war or “ crushing” the Russian economy.

• After U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham reminded of the package of tougher sanctions against the Russian Federation that had already been prepared.