Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) urged President Trump Friday to hit Russia with “the toughest of sanctions,” arguing that Vladimir Putin is “playing America as a patsy.”
“IVE SEEN ENOUGH KILLING OF INNOCENT UKRAINIAN women + children,” Grassley wrote on X.
“President Trump pls put the toughest of sanctions on Putin,” the senator added. “U ought to c from clear evidence that he is playing America as a patsy.”
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to The Submit’s request for remark.
Grassley, the president professional tempore of the Senate and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, posted his tweet a day after the Russian army battered Ukraine’s capital metropolis of Kyiv with a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles.
The assault, the deadliest in Kyiv in almost a 12 months, killed 12 individuals and left almost 90 injured.
Trump indicated that “work on the overall Peace Deal between Russia and Ukraine is going smoothly,” in a Reality Social publish Friday the place he additionally referred to as on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “immediately” log out on a uncommon earth minerals cope with the US which the commander in chief claims “is at least three weeks late.”
On Thursday, Trump referred to as on Putin to “STOP” assaults towards Kyiv amid the peace talks.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. “Not necessary, and very bad timing.”
“Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!”
In a separate publish, Trump argued that Zelensky “boasting” about his refusal to acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory “will do nothing but prolong” the warfare.
A bipartisan group of greater than 50 senators, together with Grassley, backed laws launched by Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) earlier this month that will implement sanctions towards Russia and “actors backing Russia’s aggression if the country refuses to engage in good-faith negotiations for a lasting peace with Ukraine or undermines the sovereignty of Ukraine after peace is negotiated.”
The laws additionally seeks to impose a 500% tariff on imported items from nations that purchase Russian oil, gasoline, uranium and different merchandise.
“The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 will issue decisive consequences aimed at deterring Russian aggression,” Cramer mentioned in an announcement. “This bill sends a clear message: bullies have a price to pay for their actions. Vladimir Putin and Russia must face serious consequences for their destructive and unprovoked war on Ukraine.”
