U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks throughout a gathering with NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte within the Oval Workplace on the White Home on July 14 in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs North America
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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs North America
President Trump’s change of tone on Russia and its ongoing warfare 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 warfare with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
However this week, Trump’s frustration with Putin and lack of ability 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 supplied to Ukraine. Final week, Trump introduced that the U.S. would resume its personal weapon deliveries to Ukraine after a quick pause.
In an interview with Morning Version, Blumenthal mentioned Trump can put much more strain on Russia by way of the Sanctioning Russia Act 2025 — a invoice he is co-sponsoring with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina. The measure would permit Trump to impose 500% tariffs on items from international locations that commerce with Russia. The identical tariff charge may be utilized to Russian items nonetheless coming into the U.S.
Blumenthal mentioned there could also be a private aspect 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 convey down this financial hammer.”
He continued: “Our laws would supply 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 army assist could be very substantial.”
Blumenthal spoke to NPR’s Steve Inskeep concerning the president’s renewed strategy to in search of 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: May the president prove 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 social gathering was pleasant to Russia, and Trump now tried that strategy and has the outcomes that he has — and that could be shifting all people again to a place that you’d take into account extra sensible.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal: No query that I welcome, and I believe others do as nicely, this exceptional shift in stance. Nevertheless it needs to be adopted by motion. The size of what the Ukrainians want in army phrases, the Patriot missile techniques, the air to air and air to floor techniques which are so essential to the protection of Ukraine. I spoke to President Zelenskyy once I met with him simply final week. And the brutal, murderous assault continues with lack of life, maiming and damage to girls and kids. And the kidnapping of youngsters continues. However the shift in perspective needs to be accompanied by actual motion.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) walks off the Senate flooring on the U.S. Capitol Constructing on June 30 in Washington, D.C.
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Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs North America
Inskeep: And let’s speak about that, as a result of we heard NPR’s Charles Maynes report that Russians interpreted the president’s risk probably not 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 critical risk right here?
Blumenthal: I believe the president is critical. Actually I hope so. However someway, our laws will present unity and energy, our solidarity between Congress and the administration. That unity is essential as a message to Putin that 85 members of the USA Senate have co-sponsored this bone-crushing sanctions laws. And what’s extra, it supplies an impetus for European sanctions. They’re contemplating their very own related financial concepts. And to be very clear, these are secondary sanctions in opposition to India, China, Brazil, geared toward reducing the revenues that gas Putin’s warfare machine. That is his huge concern. And the purpose right here is to not reshore American manufacturing or achieve income — good targets. However right here our goal is to alter habits. And if these sanctions have been by no means imposed, Russia can be disadvantaged of income from China, India and Brazil and different prospects. We might be very glad.
Inskeep: However John Thune, the Republican chief within the Senate, has mentioned, in accordance with Politico, that he isn’t going to convey up your invoice for a vote proper now as a result of President Trump is attempting to make peace on his personal. Evidently Trump remains to be attempting to make buddies 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 companion on this effort. I believe our hope is that we’ll transfer ahead in some unspecified time in the future very, very quickly. Senator Thune is a co-sponsor and a very good supporter of our laws, and he clearly is in command of the timing as to what’s dropped at the Senate flooring. However I hope he shall be persuaded {that a} vote in some unspecified time in the future 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.
