U.S. lawmakers spoke to TV Abraham on Tuesday, a day after President Trump announced he was shortening the deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine. President Trump said he’s reducing the 50-day deadline he set earlier this month to a 10–12 day timeline. He has threatened to impose secondary sanctions if no ceasefire agreement is reached.
A bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, which has broad support in the Senate, was introduced earlier this year. However, it remains unclear whether it will move forward, as Republican leaders have signaled they want to wait for President Trump’s ceasefire ultimatum to play out first.
“Really what I think we could do to really up the pressure on Putin and China and India and Brazil is to go ahead and pass the sanctions bill out of the Senate,” said Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC). “I think we can make it very clear the Senate, with over 80 cosponsors, can pass this bill and then have it sitting in the House if the President needs other devices to get Russia to the table.”
Senator Mark Warner (D‑VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, told TV Abraham he’s encouraged by President Trump shortening the deadline.
“If we don’t want to have NATO engaged, which we are a founding member of, in a even greater war, we need to bring Russia to the table and I’m glad the President’s moving that deadline up,” Senator Warner said.
