US Congress Eager for Russia Sanctions, Seeks Trump Support

House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed strong support for imposing sanctions on Russia, emphasizing that Congress has a significant appetite for such measures to help end the war in Ukraine. However, Johnson stressed that Congress cannot act independently and must coordinate with President Donald Trump, who has indicated willingness to impose serious sanctions if NATO countries also stop buying Russian oil. Trump has further proposed imposing tariffs of 50-100% on China, contingent on the end of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Bipartisan efforts in Congress, including support from senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, have advanced sanctions packages targeting countries purchasing Russian oil, but legislative action requires the president's approval. Johnson described the situation as requiring desperate measures and expressed personal eagerness to work with the White House and Senate to enact sanctions. The coordinated approach underscores the necessity of partnership with the commander in chief to implement effective sanctions against Russia.