WASHINGTON — President Trump said Friday he plans to make a “major statement” on Russia early next week — as the Senate considers legislation to force his hand on sanctions after months of threats from the commander-in-chief.
“I think I’ll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview Thursday.
“You’ll be seeing things happen,” Trump told a reporter Friday morning on the White House lawn when asked about an overnight Russian drone attack that damaged a maternity hospital in Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv.
The president has openly flirted with stepping up sanctions on Moscow over attacks that have injured and killed Ukrainian civilians — as well as imposing penalties on customers of Russian oil, minerals and other goods.
Trump also has mentioned potentially sending a new Patriot air-defense system to Ukraine to guard against incoming rockets — a transaction that can be made either directly or indirectly by authorizing a transfer of the US-made equipment by an ally such as Germany or France.
Trump teased plans for the statement as his executive prerogative could soon be limited.
A bill co-sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) — believed to have the veto-proof support of more than 80 senators — would force Trump to impose a 500% tariff on any country that buys Russian oil, walloping nations such as India, a US defense partner.
In a change made to appease Trump, the legislation would allow the president to waive tariffs twice for a 180-day period, but the second waiver would trigger a congressional vote.
A source close to the White House told The Post this week that Trump strongly opposes the proposed congressional review of his waivers.
Trump has attempted to broker a peace deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since re-entering office Jan. 20 and has described the looming bill as offering him autonomy, despite its current wording.
“It’s at my option if I want to use it,” he insisted to NBC News. “They’re going to pass a very major and very biting sanctions bill, but it’s up to the president as to whether or not he wants to exercise it.”
In the past, Trump has attached signing statements to bills asserting executive primacy in foreign policy.
“We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,” Trump added Thursday night. “So what we’re doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons, and NATO is paying for those weapons.”
Trump this week reversed a Pentagon pause on defensive weapon shipments to Ukraine after military leaders expressed concern that US stockpiles were running too low.
The potential toughening of sanctions on Moscow by Trump comes after much of Russia’s business elite were spared by Biden administration sanctions — including two billionaires who sought out US real estate investments with former first son Hunter Biden.
