Trump interest in Russia sanctions raises Ukraine allies' hopes
Now, Ukraine's supporters in Washington and Kyiv, who have for months hoped for President Donald Trump to throw his weight behind the bill, are anxiously awaiting what the Republican president has said will be a "major statement" on Russia on Monday.
Trump, who vowed during his election campaign to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has given no details on what his planned announcement would entail, but over the past few weeks he has grown increasingly and publicly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his reluctance to accept a ceasefire and the growing civilian death toll of Russian attacks.
On Tuesday, Trump approved sending U.S. defensive weapons to Ukraine. Two days later, he came closer than ever to endorsing the sanctions bill, although he has not yet signed off on the legislation's text, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters earlier in the week that the Senate could vote on the bill this month.
Mike Johnson, the top House Republican, has expressed similar optimism, while Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have privately told European diplomats that the bill will move imminently, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
"The Senate will move soon on a tough sanctions bill – not only against Russia – but also against countries like China and India that buy Russian energy products that finance Putin's war machine," Graham wrote on X on Tuesday.
Still, it was unclear if Trump had given up on pushing for diplomacy with Russia. And the extensive veto power on sanctions that the White House is demanding could render the bill more symbolic than substantive, some supporters acknowledge.
Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Friday following his second in-person meeting with Russian Foreign Sergei Lavrov, Rubio said "a new idea" was discussed that he would be taking back to Trump for further consultations.
He declined to give further details.
"That new concept is – this new approach is not something that automatically leads to peace, but it could potentially open the door to a path," Rubio said.
But he also reiterated Trump's frustration over Moscow's unwillingness to be more flexible and said Americans had told the Russians weeks ago that a sanctions bill could well pass.
The bill, whose lead sponsors are Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, would levy extensive sanctions against various Russian individuals, government bodies and financial institutions.
It would also punish other countries that trade with Moscow, imposing 500% tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly urged Ukraine's Western allies to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow to force the Kremlin to agree to a ceasefire as a step towards reaching an end to the war, now 40 months old.
Work on the bill has picked up pace over the last week, according to two U.S. officials.
One person familiar with Trump's thinking said the text still needs work. The current version, that person said, does not give the president enough flexibility to carry out his foreign policy agenda independent of Congress.
The White House was working with Congress and the bill's sponsors to ensure it would be "an enhancement to the president's foreign policy objectives," that person added.
One person with knowledge of the drafting process said congressional staff had been ironing out technical issues in recent days, such as how to keep any sanctions from affecting the operations of the U.S. embassy in Moscow.
A spokesperson for Graham told Reuters the bill would probably not come to the floor until the week of July 21 at the earliest, due to other legislative priorities.
The House of Representatives, which will need to vote on the measure, leaves for August recess in two weeks, meaning floor time is at a premium. That is particularly true if a Trump request to slash $9.4 billion in spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting - which passed the House and is currently in the Senate - heads back to the House following any changes.
Some supporters of the bill acknowledge that the legislation is largely symbolic, given that Trump would have broad authority to veto the sanctions, and in any case could simply issue sanctions from the executive branch if he wishes.
"The president already has all these authorities," said one Republican Senate staffer.
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Newsweek
26 minutes ago
- Newsweek
The 1600: Tucker Has a Point
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His broader point was actually in line with what we discuss all the time here: that all of these cultural issues that take up so much oxygen in the national conversation are taking attention away from Our Biggest Problem, which is the affordability crisis that is creating a lack of faith in our entire economic system. Quick note about Tucker, since someone will inevitably accuse me of "promoting fascism" or something by highlighting his remarks. I don't much care for his shtick, and I find him to be pretty smug and grating to listen to. If you watch the whole TPUSA video, there's parts where he sounds especially unhinged. But he's also very smart, thoughtful and challenging, so I make a point to pay some attention to what he's up to, especially now that he is no longer a Murdoch/Fox mouthpiece. I also know one of his kids and they're super cool, normal and well-adjusted, so that reflects well on him in my mind. 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The median age of a first-time homebuyer in America was 38 last year. This year it'll probably crack 40. In the 1990s it was 28-30. Some 70% of Americans can't afford a $400K house, the median sale price of a home in the US right now, according to the Nat'l Assoc. of Homebuilders. You can be in your mid-30s, with a spouse, good job and some savings, and be completely priced out of the American housing market. That is a disaster for our society. Tucker makes the point that when people don't own things, they don't feel ownership of their country and it creates some of the political volatility we're seeing now. Elect a smooth-talking socialist the mayor of the financial capital of the world? Sure, why not! What the hell do I have to lose? The other thing, as any non-billionaire trying to raise kids in NYC can tell you, is that it becomes very difficult to start or expand a family if you don't have a house. Homes and kids are the things that give you agency and ownership in our society. They make you care about your community, your city, your country's future, in a way that's different than if you're just slumming it as a single person renting an apt in a hip neighborhood. As Tucker put it: "If you have a lawn, you're thinking long term." Neither of our esteemed political parties have figured out how to deal with this. Trump is demanding the Fed lower interest rates, which would help the housing situation to a degree (even though as this morning's CPI data shows inflation has not been completely tamed). But he's also slapping tariffs on housing materials like copper and deporting construction workers, all of which will make it harder to do the massive amount of homebuilding we need to be doing. The Democrats have never met a regulation they didn't approve, but at least are now paying lip service to this concept of "abundance politics" where we cut the red tape and build, build, build: housing, transit, infrastructure, you name it. 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USA Today
28 minutes ago
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Building Trust in the Financial Advice Industry: What Changed After 2008?
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Professional advisors also maintain errors and omissions insurance and work with registered investment advisor firms that carry additional protections for client assets. These safeguards provide multiple layers of security that weren't common before 2008. The Trust Dividend The financial advisory industry's transformation since 2008 has created what experts call a 'trust dividend.' Firms that embrace transparency, maintain proper credentials, and operate under fiduciary standards tend to attract more clients and build stronger long-term relationships. This shift rewards legitimate professionals while making it harder for unqualified individuals to operate in a space where transparency and client education are viewed as competitive advantages rather than regulatory burdens. The result is an industry that better serves investors' needs while maintaining the professional standards clients deserve. Modern advisory relationships are built on mutual respect, clear communication, and shared understanding of goals and risks. What This Means for Today's Investors The post-2008 regulatory environment has created unprecedented protections for investors, but these safeguards only work when clients choose properly credentialed advisors who operate under current standards. Today's investors have access to more information than ever before. Regulatory databases, fee disclosure documents, and professional credentials are all publicly available. The challenge isn't finding information—it's knowing how to evaluate it and what questions to ask. Legitimate financial advisors welcome questions about their background, methodology, and fee structure. They provide clear documentation, maintain proper licenses, and operate under fiduciary standards. Most importantly, they view client education as an essential part of their service. For investors seeking financial guidance, the lesson is clear: work with advisors who embrace the post-2008 standards of transparency and accountability. The tools to verify these qualifications are readily available, and reputable professionals will encourage their use. The financial advisory industry's evolution since 2008 has created better outcomes for investors willing to do their homework and work with consumer-reviewed and credentialed professionals who operate under the highest ethical standards. Goldstone Financial Group contactus@ +1 630 620 9300 18W140 Butterfield Road Oakbrook Terrace Illinois 60181 United States
New York Post
29 minutes ago
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