Bipartisan group of US lawmakers urges Trump to use Graham Act to impose sanctions on Russia

A bipartisan group of members of the US House of Representatives has called on US President Donald Trump not to ease sanctions on Russia and instead to implement the Graham Act.

Marcy Kaptur, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Quigley and Joe Wilson, lawmakers from both parties, called on the Trump administration in a letter not to ease sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

They were responding to media reports that members of the Trump administration are proposing to press Russia to release political prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief and the restoration of economic ties with Moscow.

The House members have condemned this idea, arguing that it would only embolden the Kremlin.

"As long as Russia's full-scale invasion to conquer Ukraine and threaten our European allies continues, the United States must take every step necessary to stop war criminal Vladimir Putin in his tracks. Sanctions relief will embolden Russia and prolong the war," the lawmakers said in their letter.

They also called on Trump to approve the sanctions measures provided for under the Graham Act. Under the legislation, the US president is required to announce sanctions against Russia by 18 October.

"We look forward to the Administration's first round of new sanctions designations ahead of 18 October, the first deadline in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, and urge the Administration to act swiftly to step up economic pressure on Russia. Peace in Europe can only be achieved through strength," the lawmakers stressed.

Democratic US senators previously issued a joint statement in which they called on Trump, among other things, to implement the Graham Act, which concerns sanctions against Russia and punitive tariffs on buyers of Russian energy.

In his address to the UN General Assembly, US President Donald Trump said that he is prepared to implement the Graham Act if necessary.