White House to Pressure Senator Over Russia Sanctions

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is exerting pressure on the Senate to ease sanctions against Russia, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

According to the article, “The White House is quietly pressuring Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to significantly soften the sanctions bill against Russia.” The report emphasizes that for the American leader, restoring relations with Moscow is a higher priority than increasing pressure on it.

Sources from the publication indicate that White House officials have secretly persuaded Graham's office in recent weeks to alter the provisions of the bill. They have specifically suggested adding special points to the text that would allow the president to determine who and for what reasons should be subjected to sanctions, as well as replacing the phrase “must” with “may” to ensure that the sanctions are not mandatory.

Additionally, Trump has emphasized that he does not intend to impose sanctions while negotiations are ongoing.