Kremlin Says US Sanctions Bill Could Hinder Ukraine Peace Efforts

The Kremlin has criticized U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham's proposed bill that would impose severe sanctions on Russia and its trading partners, including 500% tariffs on countries like China and India that buy Russian oil. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Graham an "inveterate Russophobe" and questioned whether such sanctions would help resolve the conflict in Ukraine, urging the bill's backers to consider its impact on peace negotiations. Senator Graham stated that President Donald Trump supports advancing the sanctions bill, describing it as a strategic tool to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. Despite Trump's backing, he retains a waiver allowing him to decide whether to sign the bill into law if passed by Congress. The Kremlin warned that these sanctions could hinder efforts to reach a peace deal in Ukraine and highlighted the potential economic impact on countries heavily reliant on Russian oil imports. This ongoing tension underscores the complex balance between applying economic pressure on Russia and maintaining diplomatic efforts to settle the Ukraine conflict.