Trump backs Russia sanctions bill championed by Sen. Lindsey Graham

US President Donald Trump will support a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia that was championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a White House official told CNN.

The endorsement comes just days after Graham's unexpected death and is expected to further ease the bill's path through Congress. The South Carolina Republican had spent years working to advance the legislation.

Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal revealed on July 10 that the administration was prepared to support the measure after lengthy negotiations. However, uncertainty remained over Trump's personal backing, as he had previously criticised the proposal and argued for greater presidential discretion over sanctions decisions.

Asked by CNN's Kaitlan Collins whether he intended to sign the legislation, Trump replied: "Yeah, we're talking about it. … We'll decide very soon on that."

Earlier in the day, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the White House had worked closely with Graham on the package and expressed optimism about its prospects.

"It'll take Democrats and Republicans here in the Senate to do that, but I'm hopeful we can make it happen," Thune stated.

He added that in Graham's final days, the sanctions bill was "the thing that he cared the most about in terms of an accomplishment, and it would certainly be an incredible legacy for him."

Speaking separately to CNN, Blumenthal noted that he planned to discuss the final preparations and timetable for the legislation with Thune, including selecting a new Republican senator to replace Graham as the bill's lead sponsor.

The package would authorise Trump to impose steep tariffs on imports from countries purchasing Russian oil, uranium and natural gas, in a bid to increase economic pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.

"It should be seen as a fitting tribute to Sen. Graham to do it quickly in his memory," Blumenthal said. "It's exactly what we were talking about when I last spoke to him over the weekend."

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov