Lindsey Graham tells WSJ he's willing to act without Trump to end 'thug' Putin
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) penned a letter to the Wall Street Journal after its editorial board issued a demand for a “Senate bill [that]would crimp the Kremlin’s war financing.”
“Regarding your editorial, 'A Sanctions Message to Putin—and China': Since taking office, President Trump has earnestly sought to bring Ukraine and Russia together to achieve a just and honorable peace, ensuring global stability. That is more important now than ever,” the Senator wrote.
“America’s shameful withdrawal from Afghanistan didn’t merely damage our reputation; it set in motion aggression across the world,” Graham, a former colonel in the Air Force, wrote. “If the U.S. continues to lead decisively on bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to an end, that could change. Mr. Trump can restore our reputation—and end the bloodbath.”
He added, “Yet peace requires willing partners. While Ukraine has made clear it is ready for such an end, Russia has made more excuses than the market can bear.”
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Graham, who has held his Senate seat since 2003, went on to say, “President Trump has asked Vladimir Putin to provide a term sheet outlining the requirements for a cease-fire, bringing the roadblocks to peace to a head. Depending on how Russia responds, we will know which course to take.”
“The Senate is prepared either way,” the 69-year-old wrote. “I have coordinated with the White House on the Russia sanctions bill since its inception. The bill would put Russia on a trade island, slapping 500% tariffs on any country that buys Moscow’s energy products.”
“The consequences of its barbaric invasion must be made real to those that prop it up. If China or India stopped buying cheap oil, Mr. Putin’s war machine would grind to a halt,” Graham said.
“The sanctions bill has 82 co-sponsors. As Sen. Thune said last week, if Mr. Putin continues to play games, the Senate will act.” Graham added, “I’m hoping for the best, but when it comes to the thug in Moscow, we should all prepare for more of the same.”