U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks throughout a gathering with NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte within the Oval Workplace on the White Home on July 14 in Washington, DC.
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President Trump’s change of tone on Russia and its ongoing conflict in opposition to Ukraine is a “exceptional shift” that should be adopted by motion, says Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.
Since returning to workplace, Trump has cozied as much as Russian President Vladimir Putin and even gone so far as blaming Ukraine for the battle between the 2 international locations, which escalated into all-out conflict with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
However this week, Trump’s frustration with Putin and incapacity to achieve a ceasefire deal seems to have boiled over. The president gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to achieve a deal or face steep financial penalties.
The president additionally outlined a plan to have U.S. producers promote weapons to NATO allies that will then be offered to Ukraine. Final week, Trump introduced that the U.S. would resume its personal weapon deliveries to Ukraine after a short pause.
In an interview with Morning Version, Blumenthal mentioned Trump can put much more strain on Russia by the Sanctioning Russia Act 2025 — a invoice he is co-sponsoring with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina. The measure would enable Trump to impose 500% tariffs on items from international locations that commerce with Russia. The identical tariff price is also utilized to Russian items nonetheless coming into the U.S.
Blumenthal mentioned there could also be a private ingredient and “sense of betrayal” to Trump’s change, however that seeing Russia “persevering with to bomb and assault civilians, hospitals … has moved the president to deliver down this financial hammer.”
He continued: “Our laws would offer a sledgehammer — broader, stronger, extra particular. And that is why we predict we have to proceed to pursue our Russia sanctions invoice. However on the similar time the navy support may be very substantial.”
Blumenthal spoke to NPR’s Steve Inskeep concerning the president’s renewed strategy to searching for a ceasefire in Ukraine and the chance Congress has for a uncommon exhibiting of unity.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
Interview highlights
Steve Inskeep: Might the president end up to do some good right here out of your perspective? And by this, I imply he was pleasant to Russia, a giant a part of his get together was pleasant to Russia, and Trump now tried that strategy and has the outcomes that he has — and which may be shifting all people again to a place that you’d contemplate extra life like.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal: No query that I welcome, and I feel others do as nicely, this exceptional shift in stance. However it needs to be adopted by motion. The size of what the Ukrainians want in navy phrases, the Patriot missile techniques, the air to air and air to floor techniques which might be so vital to the protection of Ukraine. I spoke to President Zelenskyy after I met with him simply final week. And the brutal, murderous assault continues with lack of life, maiming and harm to girls and youngsters. And the kidnapping of kids continues. However the shift in angle needs to be accompanied by actual motion.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) walks off the Senate ground on the U.S. Capitol Constructing on June 30 in Washington, D.C.
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Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures North America
Inskeep: And let’s discuss that, as a result of we heard NPR’s Charles Maynes report that Russians interpreted the president’s risk not likely as a risk, however as a break. He is saying he’ll impose sanctions on them and tariffs in 50 days. They see this, a few of them, anyway, in Russia as a 50-day reprieve. Do you assume that the president is making a severe risk right here?
Blumenthal: I feel the president is severe. Definitely I hope so. However someway, our laws will present unity and power, our solidarity between Congress and the administration. That unity is essential as a message to Putin that 85 members of america Senate have co-sponsored this bone-crushing sanctions laws. And what’s extra, it gives an impetus for European sanctions. They’re contemplating their very own comparable financial concepts. And to be very clear, these are secondary sanctions in opposition to India, China, Brazil, aimed toward reducing the revenues that gasoline Putin’s conflict machine. That is his massive concern. And the aim right here is to not reshore American manufacturing or acquire income — good objectives. However right here our goal is to vary conduct. And if these sanctions had been by no means imposed, Russia can be disadvantaged of income from China, India and Brazil and different clients. We’d be very happy.
Inskeep: However John Thune, the Republican chief within the Senate, has mentioned, in accordance with Politicothat he isn’t going to deliver up your invoice for a vote proper now as a result of President Trump is making an attempt to make peace on his personal. Plainly Trump continues to be making an attempt to make associates with Russia. He hasn’t fairly given up and Republicans are nonetheless behind him on that.
Blumenthal: I will proceed pushing for my invoice. And Sen. Graham has been a really steadfast associate on this effort. I feel our hope is that we’ll transfer ahead sooner or later very, very quickly. Senator Thune is a co-sponsor and supporter of our laws, and he clearly is accountable for the timing as to what’s dropped at the Senate ground. However I hope he will probably be persuaded {that a} vote sooner or later is a good suggestion.
This digital story was edited by Kelley Dickens. The radio model was edited by Alice Woelfle and produced by Milton Guevara and Nia Dumas.
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