Fresh off President Donald Trump's Friday summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Sen. Lindsey Graham thinks the next phase of American diplomacy over the war in Ukraine needs to target Moscow's pocketbook.
"My advice to President Trump and [Secretary of State Marco Rubio] is, you've got to convince Putin that if this war doesn't end justly and honorably with Ukraine making concessions also, we're going to destroy the Russian economy," the South Carolina Republican told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo on "Sunday Morning Futures." "We have the ability to do it."
Tariffs on countries that purchase Russian energy are a key part of the equation, Graham said. A Senate bill he is sponsoring would allow Trump to impose levies of 500 percent on those countries.
Trump in early August hiked tariffs on India to 50 percent due to the country's purchasing of Russian oil. Graham claimed that it was those sanctions that drove Putin to acquiesce to the Alaska visit. And going after China — another major consumer of Russian oil — could prove even more pivotal, he said.
"If we take it to the next level and tell China you're next, then I think we can have an end to this war," Graham said. "The second most important person on the planet to end this war is President Xi in China. If he went to Putin and said it's time to end this war, I can't help you anymore because you're putting my country at threat, this war would end."
But Trump was far from threatening in his meeting with Putin last week. He rolled out the red carpet for the Russian leader and the two rode together in the presidential limousine. The meeting ended without a ceasefire or even concrete plans for a trilateral talk involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
But Graham was quick to attack those who suggested that meant the confab was a failure.
"To all these media analysts who say this was a bust, that's ridiculous," he said. "We have progress we didn't have before. We have momentum for peace. We'll see where it goes. So I'll leave it up to Trump."
On Sunday, special envoy Steve Witkoff claimed the meeting was a victory, saying that Russia had consented to "Article 5-like protections" for Ukraine at the conclusion of the war.
Zelenskyy — and a selection of European leaders — will journey to Washington on Monday to touch base with Trump on what comes next.
Graham insisted that Europe, too, must be willing to further sanction Russia in a bid to stop the fighting.
"To our European allies, up your game. Quit complaining about what we're not doing in America and do more yourself," he said. "Put tariffs on every country that buys Russian oil and gas cheaply to benefit Putin's war machine. Do what Trump's doing."
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