The harshest-ever sanctions bill against Russia is about to take effect! Are 1,700 Ukrainian soldiers encircled in Kharkiv?

Just now, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Russia-Iran sanctions bill—proposed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham—with 262 votes in favor and 152 opposed. It will soon be sent to President Trump for signature. Unlike during his first term—when he refused to sign a Russia sanctions bill—Trump is expected to sign this bill swiftly and allow it to enter into force. This judgment is based on the bill’s grant of sweeping waiver authority to the U.S. president: the president may expand or reduce sanctions against Russia and Iran as he deems necessary for U.S. national security interests. Dubbed the harshest-ever sanctions bill against Russia, it targets senior Russian officials, oligarchs and their families, Russian banks, energy enterprises, and the so-called 'shadow fleet.' Additionally, the bill authorizes the U.S. president to impose 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil and natural gas. Tariffs are Trump’s primary effective tool in addressing international issues—whether against U.S. allies or potential strategic rivals. Once enacted, this bill is expected to trigger a series of major repercussions. Lindsey Graham’s Russia sanctions bill has passed the House and is expected to be signed into law by President Trump shortly. Regardless, this development is good news for Ukraine—provided Trump’s ‘deal-making’ with the Kremlin does not betray or harm Ukraine’s interests. Trump and his close associates—including Vance, Wittkoff, and Kushner—have made their stance toward Ukraine crystal clear. Recent polling shows Trump’s approval rating on the Russia-Ukraine issue has plummeted—from +2% in 2024 to −33% today. His foreign policy approval rating has likewise collapsed—from +2% in January 2025 into deeply negative territory. Like his domestic policies and others, American public perception of Trump has undergone a dramatic shift following his return to the presidency. I’ve said many times before that Trump’s re-election carries certain advantages: it allows Americans—and indeed Trump supporters worldwide—to witness firsthand the consequences of having someone like Trump serve as U.S. president. Many truths cannot be grasped through mere explanation; most people fail to comprehend these principles, underlying patterns, or deeper logic—only direct experience can change their understanding. Reality is the best teacher for most people—and the strictest one. Currently, heightened tensions in the Middle East have triggered a global diesel price surge, placing immense pressure on Trump both domestically and internationally. Yet Trump insists this is not solely his problem—but also Ukraine’s: Ukraine, he argues, should halt its attacks on Russian oil refineries. The Kremlin responded positively: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called Trump’s proposal for a Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire a 'very good idea,' but attached several conditions—including Ukraine ceasing all attacks on Russian refineries, guaranteeing safe passage for Russian tankers, and Western countries lifting energy-related sanctions against Russia. After Trump called for an end to attacks on Russian refineries, Ukraine continued striking targets such as the Syzran refinery. However, according to open-source reports, Ukraine appears not to have attacked any Russian refineries yesterday—September 16, local time.

Russian ballistic missiles bombard Ukraine; Trump says it’s got nothing to do with me! Poland’s president opposes Ukraine even more than Russia.

On August 7, local time, the U.S. Senate passed—by a decisive 86-to-11 vote—the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill spearheaded by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The vote was presided over and formally announced by Senator Darleen Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister. The bill targets senior Russian government officials, relevant financial institutions, and other entities owned or controlled by the Russian government. It prohibits fund transfers involving Russia, listing or trading of Russian entities on U.S. markets, investments by U.S. individuals or firms in Russia or purchases of Russian sovereign debt, exports to or investment in Russia’s energy sector, and imports of Russian uranium. Notably, the bill authorizes the U.S. government to impose 500% tariffs on goods imported from Russia—and 100% tariffs on exports to the United States from the top five importers of Russian oil and natural gas. It further empowers the U.S. president to grant conditional sanctions waivers whenever he judges them vital to U.S. national security—expanding Trump’s presidential authority to suspend sanctions unilaterally, without explanation to or approval from Congress. During earlier legislative debates, fierce controversy erupted in the Senate over whether to authorize Trump to levy tariffs on Russia’s largest gas and oil buyers. Eleven Democratic senators and Republican Senator Rand Paul demanded deletion of that provision, warning that Trump could exploit it to wield greater power—using tariffs to punish U.S. allies and partners while rewarding adversaries: 'punishing friends, rewarding enemies.' 'All sanctions in this bill hinge entirely on Trump’s personal discretion—and he has repeatedly stated outright that he prefers lifting existing sanctions on Russia over imposing new ones.' Although the final version of the bill includes revisions designed to shield U.S. European allies, the reality remains unchanged: Trump gains broader, less constrained authority to deploy the tariff weapon. Beyond wielding tariffs, Trump appears to possess no other tools in international relations. With the Senate’s passage of this new round of Russia sanctions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the U.S. Senate and 'all those supporting Ukraine,' stating the bill’s adoption 'undoubtedly helps intensify pressure on the aggressor, to end this insane war waged by Russia against our independence and our people.' Yet realistically, the bill still requires some time before entering full force—and Trump retains sole authority to determine the scale of sanctions: whether to tighten or lift them altogether. Meanwhile, the assistance Ukraine most urgently needs from the United States grows ever more elusive. Multiple outlets—including The Washington Post—reported that last Friday, Trump engaged in a heated argument with his Defense Secretary, Hegseth, at Camp David. Trump reportedly accused Hegseth of failing to inform him about a severe missile shortage—forcing the cancellation of a new large-scale air campaign against the Ayatollah regime. According to the report, Trump became extremely angry. Yet Trump himself—as well as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt—denied the story outright, calling it '100% fake news' and rejecting claims of both a U.S. missile shortage and any serious confrontation between Trump and Hegseth.

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