Sen. Lindsey Graham says Trump ready to ‘crush’ Russian economy if Putin avoids talks with Zelenskyy
August 19, 2025
President Donald Trump is willing to “crush” Russia’s economy with sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That’s according to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spoke with Trump on Tuesday morning. Graham’s call with Trump came less than 24 hours after high-stakes meetings at the White House with Zelenskyy and several European leaders. Trump and the leaders emerged sounding optimistic about ending the war in Ukraine, with the expectation being that a Putin and Zelenskyy sit-down will happen soon. Still, Graham said the push for sanctions legislation could restart in September if progress stalls.