A bipartisan bill in Congress would enable President Trump to slap "bone-crushing sanctions" on Russia, says Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

"Unlike past direct sanctions, secondary tariffs extend US reach globally, targeting Russia's trade partners. If enforced, they could affect at least 30-40 percent of Russia's oil sales, destabilizing its economy and rippling through global energy supplies," he warned.

For the fifth time, the American president has threatened Russia with economic sanctions. The first four times, Trump failed to follow through.

Donald Trump has said that US weapons are already “being shipped” to Ukraine as Washington ramps up its military support for Kyiv. A number of Kyiv’s European allies will purchase Patriot air defence missile systems from the US to assist Ukraine’s defence.

U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to choke off Russia’s oil revenue via secondary sanctions would deal a hammer blow to Moscow's finances, but markets are betting that the risk of higher energy prices will keep Washington from following through.

President Donald Trump threw a curveball into the Russia-Ukraine war earlier this week, announcing that the U.S. will provide offensive weapons, including Patriot missile batteries, to Ukraine through NATO allies.

Sen. Lindsey Graham said "a turning point regarding Russia invasion of Ukraine is coming" amid a bipartisan effort in Congress to impose new economic sanctions on the Kremlin.

Addressing a press conference, Rutte emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting Trump's announcement on increasing military support for Ukraine, including air defence systems, missiles, and ammunition.

"The Council today imposed restrictive measures on eight persons and one entity under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions regime. They are responsible of committing serious human rights violations and abuses on behalf of the Iranian state bodies outside of Iran," according to a statement by the council.

Russia can make the decision to cease military action immediately if that government was motivated to do so,' writes an L.A. Times reader. 'Instead of 50 days, the mandate should have been five days.'