Senate leaving Russia sanctions power fully in Trump’s hands

Republican senators are getting ready to leave Washington without advancing a major sanctions bill against Russia, giving President Trump sole discretion over whether to follow through on his threats against Russian President Vladimir Putin if he refuses to halt his war against Ukraine.

Trump has given an Aug. 8 deadline for Putin to stop fighting or risk tariffs on countries that import Russian oil. As a preview, he announced 25 percent tariffs on India, a major importer of Russian energy. That’s far below the 500 percent secondary tariff power Congress laid out in draft legislation.

While Senate Ukraine hawks wanted to see their sanctions bill pass before the monthlong break, they ultimately left the decision entirely in Trump’s hands, at least for the summer.

”I think he’s going to be very careful about what he does,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said when asked by The Hill if Trump can be trusted to impose costs on Putin.

“But I think he is clearly disappointed in Putin and I think he is now coming around to recognizing that many of us were right.”

Democrats have expressed skepticism Trump will punish Putin, even as the president has shown increasing frustration with the Russian leader’s refusal to accept a ceasefire.

Trump said Friday he ordered nuclear submarines to the region in response to threats of nuclear weapons use from Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, current deputy chair of the security council and frequent online provocateur.