President Donald Trump said proposed Senate legislation to sanction countries conducting business with Russia would be “okay with me”, his strongest indication yet that he would support a months-long push to strangle Moscow’s funding.

“The Republicans are putting in legislation that is very tough, sanctioning, etcetera, on any country doing business with Russia,” Trump told reporters before leaving Florida on Sunday to return to the White House.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in October that he was ready to bring legislation long championed by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina that sanctions Russia to a vote, but didn’t “want to commit to a hard deadline.”

The bill would allow Trump to impose tariffs of up to 500% on imports from countries that buy Russian energy products

See Full Page