President Donald Trump is set to make a significant announcement about Russia on Monday, following growing tensions over Moscow’s increased attacks on Ukraine. The announcement comes as a bipartisan sanctions bill gains support in the Senate, which would give Trump new powers to pressure Russia and its allies.
According to CNN, the proposed legislation, backed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, has gathered 85 co-sponsors in the Senate. The bill would allow the president to put a 500% tariff on imports from countries that buy Russian uranium, gas, and oil, as Trump continues to view tariffs as a solution to various national security concerns.
Trump expressed his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent actions in Ukraine, though he has previously demanded that Ukraine’s Zelenskyy apologize publicly in exchange for military aid. “I am very disappointed with President Putin, and I thought he was somebody that meant what he said, and he’ll talk so beautifully, and then he’ll bomb people at night. We don’t like that,” Trump said to reporters on Sunday.
New military aid package and NATO cooperation show a shift in US strategy
The president has announced plans to send more military equipment to Ukraine through NATO, including a Patriot air defense system. Trump emphasized that Ukraine would pay fully for the equipment, stating it would be “business for us” and that they would “reimburse us 100% for them.”
I don't trust Trump's "public slams" of Putin. I think he's trying to negotiate and using sending missiles to Ukraine as a sort of carrot and stick. Does he really intend to send missiles to Ukraine? I doubt it. He has his minerals and cares little about Ukraine.
— Kenneth (@Askforken) July 14, 2025
Last week, Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the invasion, using 728 drones and 13 missiles. The attacks resulted in at least one death, according to Ukrainian officials. This escalation has pushed US lawmakers to seek stronger measures against Russia.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune might bring the sanctions bill to the floor by the end of the month, while House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated he would support similar legislation in the House. Johnson told Fox News there is a “big appetite” for tough sanctions against Russia in his chamber.
Senators Graham and Blumenthal recently returned from Rome, where they met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders. The senators believe Trump will soon allow NATO allies to use seized Russian assets to help Ukraine. The United States currently holds $5 billion in seized Russian assets that could potentially be used for this purpose.
