Republican senators are preparing to leave Washington without passing a significant sanctions bill against Russia, leaving President Donald Trump fully responsible for deciding whether to impose severe economic penalties on Russian President Vladimir Putin if he refuses to halt his war on Ukraine, The Hill reported.

Trump has issued an Aug. 8 deadline for Putin to stop military action or face tariffs targeting countries importing Russian oil. Highlighting this stance, Trump recently announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports due to India’s significant purchases of Russian energy. The proposed Senate bill would have authorized tariffs as high as 500%, marking a substantial escalation in economic pressure on Moscow.

While several Senate Republicans, particularly those with hawkish positions on Ukraine, wanted a vote on sanctions before the monthlong recess, the decision to delay legislation leaves Trump with considerable discretion.

Read more at Newsmax© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.