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WASHINGTON — President Trump publicly doubted Monday that he will approve a bipartisan sanctions bill meant to ratchet up economic pressure on Russia to end its bloody war on Ukraine.
“I’m not sure we need it,” Trump quipped during an Oval Office meeting with NATO boss Mark Rutte. “It could be very useful, we will have to see.”
The Senate bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), would put 500% tariffs on purchasers of Russian energy — including uranium, gas, and oil.
“The 500% is sort of meaningless after a while because at a certain point it doesn’t matter,” the president added. “I don’t know what they’re going to end up with.”
The measure is intended to squeeze Russia at a time when Moscow’s economy minister has warned that the country is at risk of facing a recession.
Trump’s team has been negotiating with the Senate over details of the package, pressing for more flexibility for the president to potentially waive the tariffs during negotiations with the Russians.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) was scheduled to meet with Trump later Monday to discuss the pending measure.
