US senator urges Russia to 'get to the peace table'

WASHINGTON

US Sen. Lindsey Graham warned Russia and its trading partners Monday, signaling that President Donald Trump is serious about forcing an end to the Ukraine war.

"To those in Russia who believe that President Trump is not serious about ending the bloodbath between Russia and Ukraine: You and your customers will soon be sadly mistaken. You will also soon see that Joe Biden is no longer president.

"Get to the peace table," Graham said on X, alluding to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who lashed out at Trump on Monday, warning that Trump’s escalating pressure on the Kremlin over the war in Ukraine risks triggering a broader conflict, not just between Russia and Ukraine, but between Russia and the US.

Medvedev said Trump is playing "the ultimatum game" with Russia.

"50 days or 10…He should remember 2 things: 1. Russia isn't Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don't go down the Sleepy Joe road!" he said on X.

His remarks came after Trump on Monday threatened Russia with sanctions and secondary tariffs if it does not end the Ukraine war in "about 10 or 12 days," much earlier than a previous deadline.

"I’m going to make a new deadline, of about...10 or 12 days from today. There’s no reason for waiting. It was 50 days, I wanted to be generous, but we don’t see any progress being made," Trump told a news conference in Scotland.

Graham, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, previously said that China, India and Brazil would soon face consequences for continued oil purchases from Russia and helping Putin in his ongoing war in Ukraine.