**US House Speaker Backs Tougher Sanctions on Russia**
In a bid to put more pressure on Russia over its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, US House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed support for a Senate-backed bill that aims to strengthen sanctions against Moscow. The development comes as negotiations between the two countries have yet to show significant progress.
The bipartisan group of senators had announced earlier this month that they would move forward with voting on the bill if talks between Russia and Ukraine do not make significant strides soon. According to reports, the proposed legislation seeks to impose new penalties on Russia and slap hefty tariffs – 500% – on imports from countries that buy Russian oil, petroleum products, natural gas, or uranium.
Johnson’s backing of the bill reflects a broader sentiment within Congress to take a tougher stance against Russia over its actions in Ukraine. “There are many members of Congress who want us to sanction Russia as strongly as we can,” he said, underscoring his own support for such measures.
However, US President Donald Trump has so far been hesitant to impose new sanctions on Russia, citing concerns that doing so could derail ongoing peace talks between the two countries. Despite this, Trump has emphasized that if Moscow fails to make progress in negotiations, Washington will not hesitate to take action.
**Ukraine Proposes Peace Deal with Sanctions Renewal**
In related news, Russia and Ukraine held a second round of talks in Istanbul on June 2. Kyiv presented a new peace proposal that included the potential easing of sanctions on Moscow, but only if certain conditions are met. The plan would see automatic renewal of sanctions if a ceasefire agreement is broken.
However, Russia has so far failed to meet these demands, instead proposing a limited two- to three-day ceasefire in specific front-line areas to recover the bodies of fallen soldiers. This stance has been met with skepticism by Ukraine and its Western allies, who continue to call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has sparked concerns globally about the risks of escalation and the impact on regional stability. As such, efforts to strengthen sanctions against Moscow are likely to gain further traction in Washington.
