‘Stay Tuned’: Lindsey Graham Says Trump Is About To Wallop Russia Over Frozen Peace Talks

President Donald Trump is prepared to take a much harsher approach toward Russia to bring the war in Ukraine to an end, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

Graham on Sunday said to “stay tuned” for presidential announcements on sanctions, asset seizures, and other levers that the Trump administration could pull to increase pressure on Russia to negotiate for an end to the war.

“The idea of America selling weapons to help Ukraine is very much in play,” Graham said in an interview on CBS’s “Face The Nation.”

“I don’t want to get ahead of the president, but stay tuned about seized assets,” he continued. “The Europeans want to limit the interest on the assets to go to Ukraine. Secretary Bessent wants to go further. Stay tuned about a plan to go after the seized assets more aggressively. Stay tuned for a plan where America will begin to sell to our European allies a tremendous amount of weapons that can benefit Ukraine.”

Trump in recent weeks has grown more disillusioned with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

“We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless,” the president said at a cabinet meeting last week.

Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced a bill that would authorize Trump to levy up to 500% tariffs on countries that purchase Russian uranium, oil, and gas. Graham said the bill would be a “literal sledgehammer” to Russia and its economic allies.

“The big offenders here are China, India, and Brazil. India buys oil from Russia cheap and resells it. That’s despicable,” said Graham. “The only way you’re going to end this war is to get people who prop up Putin; make them choose between the American economy and helping Putin.

“You can only have one negotiator, and that’s going to be President Trump with maximum flexibility to end this war. China, India, and Brazil, you’re about to get hurt big time if you keep helping Putin,” the South Carolina senator warned.

U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said during an interview today with CBS News that people should “stay tuned” for tomorrow’s announcement from President Trump regarding Russia, with him adding, “The game, regarding Putin's invasion of Russia, is about to change. I expect,… pic.twitter.com/i9wafmCMc1

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 13, 2025

The president has not voiced public support for the bill. The president has said he is willing to sign it with a caveat: the bill be modified to give him more flexibility over the sanctions. Graham said last week that he would revise the bill to give the president authority to waive the sanctions completely, according to Politico.