House Speaker Johnson Joins Push for New Russia Sanctions

House Speaker Mike Johnson has joined bipartisan efforts to escalate sanctions against Russia, criticizing President Vladimir Putin for refusing to seriously engage in peace talks over the Ukraine invasion. The proposed sanctions bill, led by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, would impose a 500% tariff on countries importing Russian energy, a key revenue source for Kremlin military operations, and includes secondary sanctions affecting nations continuing trade with Russia. Senate Majority Leader John Thune hopes the legislation will pass before the August recess, with over 80 senators co-sponsoring the measure. While Senator Graham claims President Trump supports moving forward with the sanctions, Trump publicly described the bill as optional and expressed reservations, with White House officials concerned that the legislation would limit presidential authority over foreign policy decisions. Key points of contention include provisions allowing the president to grant waivers for importing Russian uranium or oil, now requiring some congressional input, which the administration views as micromanagement. Despite these tensions, the bill enjoys broad bipartisan backing as lawmakers seek to send a strong message to Putin over his continued aggression in Ukraine.