US Senators Warn Putin Preparing New Ukraine Offensive

Two senior U.S. senators, Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling peace talks while preparing a major new military offensive in Ukraine, emphasizing that the next two weeks are critical for the war's trajectory. After meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron, the senators highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict and called for urgent action, including a bipartisan U.S. sanctions bill targeting Russia's war economy. This bill proposes imposing 500% tariffs on countries, such as China and India, that continue to purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports, aiming to cut off key financial support for Russia's military efforts. The senators described the sanctions as "bone-crushing" and possibly the most severe seen in the Senate, aiming to isolate Russia economically. They criticized Moscow for not presenting serious peace proposals and accused Putin of using negotiations as a cover to prepare for further aggression. The senators also warned that delayed action could lead to deeper U.S. involvement, while praising European unity and urging Washington to act swiftly to prevent further escalation.