FLASH NEWS
Trump to make 'important statement' on Russia after latest attack in Ukraine: 'You'll see things happen'
2025-07-12 09:08:27 / BOTA
President Trump said Friday he plans to make a "major statement" on Russia early next week — as the Senate considers legislation to impose sanctions after months of threats from the commander-in-chief.
"I think I'll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday," Trump told NBC News.
"You're going to see things happen," Trump told a reporter Friday morning on the White House lawn, when asked about an overnight Russian drone strike that damaged a maternity hospital in Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv.
The president has spoken of increasing sanctions on Moscow over attacks that have injured and killed Ukrainian civilians - as well as imposing fines on customers of Russian oil, minerals and other goods.
Trump has also mentioned the possible sending of a new Patriot air defense system to Ukraine to protect against incoming missiles – a transaction that could be done directly or indirectly by authorizing a transfer of US-made equipment from an ally such as Germany or France.
Trump mentioned plans for the declaration, as his executive prerogative could soon be limited.
A bill co-sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) that is believed to have the support of more than 80 veto-proof senators would force Trump to impose a 500% tariff on any country that buys Russian oil, putting countries like India, a US defense partner, at a disadvantage.
In a change made to appease Trump, the legislation would allow the president to waive the tariffs twice over a 180-day period, but the second waiver would trigger a vote in Congress.
A White House source told The Post this week that Trump strongly opposes Congress' proposed review of his exemptions from the waiver measures.
Trump has been trying to broker a peace deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since he returned to office on January 20 and has described the upcoming bill as a deal that offers him autonomy, despite its current wording.
"It's my choice whether I want to use it," he insisted to NBC News. "They're going to pass a very big, very tough sanctions bill, but it's up to the president whether he wants to use it or not."
In the past, Trump has attached signing statements to bills that assert executive supremacy in foreign policy.
"We're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%," Trump added Thursday evening. "So what we're doing is the weapons that are coming out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to give those weapons, and NATO is paying for those weapons."
Trump this week lifted a Pentagon suspension of defensive weapons shipments to Ukraine after military leaders expressed concern that US stockpiles were running low.
Trump's potential tightening of sanctions on Moscow comes after much of Russia's business elite was spared sanctions by the Biden administration - including two billionaires who sought real estate investments in the US with their former first son, Hunter Biden.
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