The new sanctions bill will empower the US president to impose tariffs on Moscows trading partners, the senator said

The sanctions bill currently in the Senate would give US President Donald Trump a "sledgehammer" to use against Russia and its trading partners, hawkish Senator Lindsey Graham has said.

Trump previously said he may impose additional sanctions on Moscow if Russian-Ukrainian negotiations fail to produce a ceasefire. He also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stalling the talks.

In an interview with CBS News aired on Sunday, Graham, who co-authored the legislation with Democrat Richard Blumenthal, said Trump had "left the door open regarding Russia," despite taking a hard line on other nations. "That door is about to close," he warned.

"Dick and I have got 85 co-sponsors in the United States Senate for congressional sanctions with a sledgehammer available to President Trump to go after Putin's economy, and all those countries who prop up the Putin war machine," Graham said.

The legislation would authorize Trump to impose up to 500% tariffs on nations that continue trading with Russia, with Graham singling out China, India, and Brazil. He emphasized that Trump would have "maximum flexibility" in enforcing the measures.

Graham also claimed the administration is preparing to ramp up arms deliveries to Kiev "at a record level," and signaled a forthcoming plan to redirect frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

"I expect, in the coming days, that there will be tariffs and sanctions available to President Trump he has never had before," he said.

Moscow has condemned the sanctions as illegal and argued that the West is using the Ukraine conflict to try to contain Russia's development. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the proposed secondary tariffs "will not radically change the situation," and that Russia will continue on its "independent, sovereign and sustained path."

Putin has argued the sanctions have backfired, making Russia more self-sufficient and less dependent on foreign markets.

(RT.com)