Trump weighs 'very harsh' Russia sanctions bill as German chancellor seeks more pressure on Putin

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said helium asked President Donald Trump to enactment much unit connected Russia arsenic its three-year warfare against Ukraine shows nary signs of slowing down contempt repeated attempts from the White House to broker bid betwixt the 2 warring nations.

Merz met with Trump Thursday astatine the White House, his archetypal sojourn to Washington, D.C., since becoming Germany’s chancellor successful May and respective days aft Ukraine launched a astonishment drone onslaught connected Russian aerial bases crossed the country.

"Only spot brings peace. And if you are weak, you invitation aggression," helium said successful an interrogation connected "Special Report."

"Russia has it successful its ain hands to stop this war immediately. They could halt it overnight. So that's the crushed wherefore I asked the president to spell on with us, to enactment much unit connected this government, connected Putin, to travel to an extremity with this unspeakable war."

U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz conscionable successful the Oval Office of the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected June 5, 2025. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump has held disconnected connected enacting further secondary sanctions against Moscow arsenic his medication continues attempts to bring Russia’s warfare to an end. 

UKRAINE DESTROYS DOZENS OF RUSSIAN WARPLANES WITH DRONE ATTACK DEEP INSIDE RUSSIA

Kyiv and Moscow held a 2nd circular of talks Monday successful Istanbul, which failed to determination the needle person to securing a ceasefire deal. They some agreed to different large-scale captive swap that would spot severely injured troops instrumentality home.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire earlier this year, which was rejected by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Image depicts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Fox News Digital image)

A bipartisan sanctions bill backed by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., would enforce further terrible economical penalties connected Russia and its supporters successful an effort to unit Moscow to prosecute successful "good religion negotiations."

MIDEAST OIL POWERHOUSE BANS RUSSIAN ‘SHADOW FLEET’ VESSELS THAT SEEK TO UNDERMINE SANCTIONS

"Our authorities volition isolate Russia – putting it connected a commercialized land by imposing stiff tariffs connected different countries that enactment these atrocities," Blumenthal said successful a property release. "One of the main priorities of our authorities is to clasp China accountable for propping up Putin’s warfare instrumentality by buying inexpensive Russian lipid from the shadiness fleet. Without China’s economical support, Putin’s warfare instrumentality would travel to a grinding halt."

Trump told reporters astatine the White House Thursday that helium hasn’t looked astatine the sanctions measure yet, but believes its way volition beryllium "guided" by him. 

U.S. President Donald Trump greets German Chancellor Friedrich Merz upon accomplishment astatine the West Wing of the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected June 5, 2025. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

"I'm a precise speedy study. At the close time, I'll bash what I privation to do, but it could precise good beryllium OK. I person to see. But they're waiting for maine to determine connected what to do, and I'll know, possibly precise soon. It's a harsh bill, yeah, precise harsh," helium said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Merz acknowledged to "Special Report" impermanent anchor Aishah Hasnie that it’s been "extremely complicated" to bring the Russians to the table.

"That's the crushed wherefore I asked the president to bash much connected Russia and to enactment unit connected Russia," helium said. "You cognize that determination is a bill successful the Senate drafted connected much sanctions. [I] conscionable had a debate, a treatment with immoderate colleagues from the Senate, truthful I precise overmuch anticipation that we volition spell on and that we volition bash the same. And the aforesaid has 1 goal: bring this unspeakable warfare to an end."