Latest news with #R-S.C.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Graham, Blumenthal meet with Zelensky in Ukraine
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday after a wave of Kremlin attacks last weekend. The three leaders discussed a legislative initiative to strengthen U.S. sanctions against Russia and ongoing peace negotiations according to Zelensky's office. 'Ukraine's fight is our fight. Our national security is at stake because [Russian President] Vladimir Putin will keep going and his aggression will continue not just against Ukraine but against our allies and we will be obligated by our treaty to put troops on the ground,' Blumenthal said in a Friday video post on the social media platform X. 'Now is the time to stop Putin, now is the time to support Ukraine and I'm inspired by the continuing bravery and strength of the Ukrainian people,' he added. In response to the over three-years long war, Graham has pushed ahead a bill in the upper chamber seeking to increase sanctions on Russia in an effort to tame their aggression in Eastern Europe. Despite 82 co-sponsors for Graham's bill, lawmakers said they will wait to put the bill on the floor until President Trump approves of harsher measures. The president has signaled that he is nearing his edge with Putin, who ordered strikes in Kyiv over the weekend. '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,' Trump said in a Truth Social post. 'I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!' The president said Putin had 'gone absolutely crazy' while slamming Zelensky for his rhetoric on the war. Still, Trump told reporters that he was only 'considering' sanctions. Ceasefire talks are slated to take place in Istanbul early next week, but Zelensky says Putin has shown no real desire for the bloodshed to end. 'The President noted that Ukraine remains ready for constructive negotiations, but the Russian side cannot even define the agenda of the meeting planned for June 2 in Istanbul,' Zelensky's office wrote in a Friday release. 'Russia shows a desire for peace only in statements, while instead preparing for new offensive operations,' it continued. To date, more than 500,000 soldiers have been injured or killed in the Russia-Ukraine war. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Graham, Blumenthal meet with Zelensky in Ukraine
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday after a wave of Kremlin attacks last weekend. The three leaders discussed a legislative initiative to strengthen U.S. sanctions against Russia and ongoing peace negotiations according to Zelensky's office. 'Ukraine's fight is our fight. Our national security is at stake because [Russian President] Vladimir Putin will keep going and his aggression will continue not just against Ukraine but against our allies and we will be obligated by our treaty to put troops on the ground,' Blumenthal said in a Friday video post on the social media platform X. 'Now is the time to stop Putin, now is the time to support Ukraine and I'm inspired by the continuing bravery and strength of the Ukrainian people,' he added. In response to the over three-years long war, Graham has pushed ahead a bill in the upper chamber seeking to increase sanctions on Russia in an effort to tame their aggression in Eastern Europe. Despite 82 co-sponsors for Graham's bill, lawmakers said they will wait to put the bill on the floor until President Trump approves of harsher measures. The president has signaled that he is nearing his edge with Putin, who ordered strikes in Kyiv over the weekend. '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,' Trump said in a Truth Social post. 'I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!' The president said Putin had 'gone absolutely crazy' while slamming Zelensky for his rhetoric on the war. Still, Trump told reporters that he was only 'considering' sanctions. Ceasefire talks are slated to take place in Istanbul early next week, but Zelensky says Putin has shown no real desire for the bloodshed to end. 'The President noted that Ukraine remains ready for constructive negotiations, but the Russian side cannot even define the agenda of the meeting planned for June 2 in Istanbul,' Zelensky's office wrote in a Friday release. 'Russia shows a desire for peace only in statements, while instead preparing for new offensive operations,' it continued. To date, more than 500,000 soldiers have been injured or killed in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Donald Trump jokes about being next pope ahead of conclave; Here's why it's not canonically possible
U.S. President Donald Trump drew headlines on April 29, 2025, when he joked with reporters outside the White House that becoming pope would be his 'number one choice.' The comment followed the death of Pope Francis at age 88 due to a stroke, and came as the Catholic Church prepares for its upcoming papal conclave. When asked about the next pope, Trump declined to name a preferred candidate but described Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York as 'very good.' Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) continued the humour online, posting on X: "Watching for white smoke… Trump MMXXVIII!' I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope. This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility! The first Pope-U.S. President combination has… — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 29, 2025 While clearly intended in jest, the idea sparked discussion about what it takes to become pope Catholic canon law stipulates that only a baptised male Catholic is eligible to become pope. In practice, the role is almost always filled by a cardinal under the age of 80, elected by the College of Cardinals during a conclave. If the elected person is not already a bishop, he must be ordained immediately. The position also presumes deep theological training, active ministry, and strict adherence to Church doctrine.. While raised Presbyterian, Donald Trump has since stated he is a non-denominational Christian. He has never been part of Catholic clergy, nor is he involved in Church governance. The papal conclave to elect the next pope begins on 7 May 2025, with 135 eligible cardinal electors expected to attend. No American has ever been elected pope, and Cardinal Dolan is not viewed as a leading contender.
The Hill
01-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Bipartisan senators introduce primary, secondary Russia sanctions
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced legislation on Tuesday seeking to impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia if it does not agree to long lasting peace with its neighboring country, Ukraine. The group of lawmakers agreed to also support a 500 percent tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products. 'The sanctions against Russia require tariffs on countries who purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products. They are hard hitting for a reason,' the Senators wrote in a Tuesday release. 'The dominating view in the United States Senate is that Russia is the aggressor, and that this horrific war and Putin's aggression must end now and be deterred in the future,' they added. Airstrikes on Ukrainian infrastructure have continued to claim lives as both Russia and the neighboring Eastern European nation have agreed to ' eliminate the use of force ' in the Black Sea and end strikes on energy facilities for 30 days. The small step toward peace came a week after the Kremlin struck the Donetsk region in Ukraine on the same day after President Trump threatened to impose sanctions on Moscow in an effort to drive ceasefire negotiations. The president has expressed vexation with his counterpart Vladimir Putin for stalling methods to end the foreign conflict. 'If I think they're tapping us along, I will not be happy about it,' Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, referring to the situation abroad. Senators who signed on to impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia shared the same sense of annoyance with Putin over thwarted peace efforts. 'We share President Trump's frustration with Russia when it comes to obtaining a ceasefire, and support President Trump's desire to achieve a lasting, just and honorable peace. In 1994, as part of the Budapest Memorandum Ukraine gave up approximately 1,700 nuclear weapons with a promise from the U.S., Russia and United Kingdom that Ukraine's sovereignty would be honored in the future. This failed to deter Russian aggression,' the Senators said. 'In 2014 and 2015, the Minsk agreements were reached to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but again, it did nothing to deter future aggression. In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine once more, leading to deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions.' During talks in Saudi Arabia, Russia's negotiators urged the U.S. to help lift sanctions on Russian banks and promote Russian fertilizer and agriculture on the world market before agreeing to a ceasefire. 'It is our hope that in 2025, President Trump and his team will achieve what has eluded the world in the past: ending Russian aggression against Ukraine permanently and ensuring the survivability of a free and democratic Ukraine,' the legislators wrote. 'These sanctions against Russia are at the ready and will receive overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support if presented to the Senate and House for a vote.' The full list of sanction cosponsors include Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Angus King (I-Maine), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jim Justice (R-W.W.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Watch live: Senators discuss trip to Israel from Tel Aviv
A bipartisan group of senators led by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) will hold a press conference Monday from Tel Aviv to discuss their trip to Israel. The remarks are scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. EST and follow a number of meetings the group had with Israeli government officials. It's the first congressional delegation to visit Israel since President Trump took office for a second time. Trump has called for building up the Gaza Strip into a resort and wants Jordan and Egypt to take in Palestinians from Gaza while the area is developed. While Israel's government has responded favorably to the idea, Egypt and Jordan are not yet on board, and there are several questions about the plan's workability. Other senators in the delegation include Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.). Watch the event live in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
