OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
1:24 PM – Friday, July 11, 2025
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he intends to deliver a “major statement” about Russia early next week, as the Senate weighs legislation aimed at compelling action on sanctions following months of warnings from the commander-in-chief.
“I think I’ll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday,” Trump told NBC News during a phone interview on Thursday.
“You’ll be seeing things happen,” Trump remarked on Friday morning on the White House lawn when asked about an overnight Russian drone attack that damaged a hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
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The 47th president has since publicly signaled a willingness to escalate sanctions against Moscow in response to attacks that have continued to injure and kill Ukrainian civilians, including the possibility of targeting buyers of Russian oil, minerals, and other commodities.
He has also floated the idea of deploying an additional Patriot air-defense system to Ukraine to counter incoming missile strikes—either through a direct U.S. transfer or by authorizing one of America’s allies to supply the U.S.-manufactured system — according to the Wall Street Journal, who cited two officials.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), is gaining momentum in the Senate, reportedly with veto-proof backing from more than 80 members. The legislation would compel Trump to impose a 500% tariff on any nation purchasing Russian oil—a measure that could significantly impact key U.S. defense partners, such as India.
As of mid‑2025, India is receiving roughly 2 million barrels daily from Russia, nearly 40% of its crude oil needs, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, to accommodate Trump’s concerns, the bill was amended to grant the GOP president the ability to waive the tariff twice, each for a period of 180 days. However, the second waiver would automatically trigger a Congressional vote, effectively curbing unilateral executive control.
A source close to the White House told The New York Post this week that Trump is firmly opposed to any form of Congressional oversight tied to the waiver provision.
Since returning to office, the 47th Commander-in-chief has sought to broker a peace agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump also maintains that the upcoming bill gives him freedom to act.
“It’s at my option if I want to use it,” Trump told 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.”
This week, Trump also reversed a Pentagon-imposed pause on defensive weapons shipments to Ukraine, despite warnings from military leadership about critically depleted U.S. stockpiles.
According to Politico, a Pentagon review led by Under Secretary Elbridge Colby and endorsed by Deputy Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued that U.S. stockpiles of vital munitions, such as artillery rounds, air defense missiles (Patriot, AIM‑7), precision GMLRS rockets, and Hellfires, etc., had fallen to levels deemed “too low” to sustain both U.S. readiness and Ukraine aid.
Trump’s potential move to strengthen sanctions against Moscow marks a sharp contrast with the Biden administration, which had largely exempted much of Russia’s business elite from punitive measures, including two billionaires who previously pursued U.S. real estate investments in connection with former first son Hunter Biden.
Political analysts believe that Trump’s Monday statement will likely combine new sanctions, a strategic mechanism for resuming Ukraine arms shipments via NATO, and strident rhetoric aimed at Russia and specifically Putin.
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