White House Insists on Retaining ‘Ultimate Decision-Making Authority’ Over Sanctions
WASHINGTON, D.C: President Donald Trump is prepared to sign a bill that would significantly tighten sanctions on Russia, provided the final legislation includes a “carve-out” ensuring he retains the ultimate decision-making authority over the implementation of those measures, a senior White House official told Reuters.
The official stated that maintaining presidential control has “always been important” and that as long as this clause is included, the President would “entertain signing the bill.” The official reiterated that President Trump signaled his support for the legislative initiative on Sunday evening, effectively endorsing the measure.
The bill in question, introduced in early April by a bipartisan group of senators—primarily Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)—is designed to impose secondary sanctions on Russia’s trading partners.
The most punitive element of the lawmakers’ proposal includes authorizing import duties of 500% on goods imported into the United States from countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other commodities. This measure is primarily aimed at pressuring major consumers of Russian energy, such as China and India, to reduce their economic support for Moscow.
Despite the aggressive new legislative push, the White House spokesperson confirmed that negotiations between the United States and Russia aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine are ongoing.
“We’re definitely still working it. It just hasn’t been the center of the news because we have so much going on,” the official noted, suggesting that while the sanctions represent a powerful diplomatic tool, the administration continues to pursue a negotiated settlement.