Graham: Trump has ‘greenlit’ Russia sanctions bill

By Jordain Carney | 01/08/2026 06:54 AM EST

The South Carolina Republican said the Senate could vote as soon as next week.

Donald Trump speaks as Lindsey Graham looks on.

President Donald Trump and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speak to the media aboard Air Force One en route to Washington on Sunday. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wednesday after meeting with President Donald Trump that the Senate could vote as soon as next week to impose new sanctions aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war with Ukraine.

“After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator [Richard] Blumenthal and many others,” Graham said in a statement, referring to the Connecticut Democrat who coauthored the long-stalled legislation.

Spokespeople for the White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Graham said a Senate vote would take place “hopefully as early as next week.”

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Graham and Senate Republican leaders have been working with the White House for months to try to reach an agreement on a final version of the legislation — and this isn’t the first time Graham has declared that his bill could soon move, only for it to stall out again.

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