Russia Warns New U.S. Sanctions Law Could Undermine Trump's Peace Efforts

At the White House on a Saturday in September 2026, President Trump signed into law a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia — and in the same stroke, ensured that its force would rest entirely in his own hands. The legislation, bearing Senator Lindsey Graham's name, reflects Congress's enduring desire to hold Moscow accountable through binding statute, yet its practical weight depends on a president who has reserved broad authority to waive its requirements at will. Russia has already signaled that sanctions and diplomacy cannot share the same room, placing Trump at the familiar crossroad