US senator hopes Russia accepts ceasefire like Ukraine, vows tough sanctions if not

Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham has said that if Russia refuses the proposed truce in the conflict in Ukraine, Washington will apply “congressionally mandated sanctions”.  

“I am very encouraged to hear that Ukraine has agreed to the United States’ proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Well done to the Trump Team,” Caliber.Az quotes Graham as saying in a post on his X page.

Expressing hope that Russia would also agree to the ceasefire, Graham issued a stark warning: “If Russia refuses, we should sanction the hell out of them.

He further announced his intention to introduce legislation mandating stringent economic measures: “I will be introducing congressionally mandated sanctions that will not only impact Russia, but will also impose sanctions and tariffs on countries that buy Russian goods, including oil, gas and uranium.”

Emphasizing the need for stronger punitive measures against Moscow, Graham asserted, “It is long overdue for Russia to feel overwhelming economic pain as a result of their brutal invasion of Ukraine.”

He also praised former President Donald Trump’s role in brokering the proposed ceasefire, stating, “I applaud President Donald Trump's efforts to end this barbaric war ASAP.”

Let’s note that on March 11, Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposal put forth by the United States, aiming to halt the ongoing conflict with Russia. This decision emerged from extensive negotiations held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between high-level U.S. and Ukrainian delegations.

In response to Ukraine's acceptance of the ceasefire, the United States announced the immediate resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the success of this initiative now hinges on Russia's agreement, stating, "Our hope is that the Russians will answer 'yes' as quickly as possible, so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the proposal, noting that the ceasefire would commence once Russia agrees. He highlighted that the 30-day period of 'silence' would provide an opportunity to prepare comprehensive documents aimed at achieving lasting peace and long-term security.

By Khagan Isayev