Republicans pile pressure on Trump over Putin’s ‘jerking around’

Graham said the bill had reached 82 co-sponsors in the 100-seat Senate and stood ready to be deployed if Putin did not commit to a ceasefire.

“If Mr Putin continues to play games, the Senate will act,” Graham said in a letter to The Wall Street Journal published on Tuesday (AEST). “I’m hoping for the best, but when it comes to the thug in Moscow, we should all prepare for more of the same.”

At the same time, veteran Republican senator Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, called for Trump to “at least” hit Putin with fresh sanctions.

“I’ve had enuf of Putin killing innocent ppl,” the 91-year-old posted on social media platform X. “Pres Trump Take action AT LEAST SANCTIONS.”

The Senate sanctions bill imposes 500 per cent tariffs on any country that buys Russian oil, gas or uranium. It also forbids any US citizen doing business with any foreign person who has done militaristic, democratic or human rights harm to Ukraine, or who operates in most sectors of the Russian economy.

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In his letter to the editor, Graham noted he had been co-ordinating with the White House on the bill since its inception.

Republican Senate leader John Thune said on Thursday it was time for Putin to make a good-faith proposal for an immediate ceasefire that could lead to a just and lasting peace. “I hope he realises it’s time to do so. If not, the Senate stands ready to act,” he said.

But in the past week, some Republicans have made it clear they are frustrated with Trump’s handling of Putin.

“I’m not waiting for anything. I think we should bring it to the floor and put the hurt on Putin,” Todd Young, a Republican senator from Indiana, told US news site Semafor last week. “It’s pretty clear to me that Putin has been jerking us around for months, and I don’t think the United States of America should tolerate that.”

However, during Senate hearings last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned against pulling the trigger on sanctions too early, saying the Trump administration was trying to draw Putin to the negotiating table.

Trump reacted angrily to Putin’s weekend bombardment of Ukraine, indicating in a Truth Social post that he was perplexed and surprised by the Russian dictator’s actions.

“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him,” Trump said. “He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.”