Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the most senior Republican in the Senate, on Friday urged President Trump to “put the toughest of sanctions” on Russian President Vladimir Putin, declaring that Putin is “playing America as a patsy.”
Grassley posted his statement on X after Russia hit Kyiv with missiles and drones that killed at least 12 people and left 90 people injured.
That strike came a few days after a Russian attack killed three people in southern Ukraine during a 30-hour Easter ceasefire that Putin had declared over the holiday weekend.
“IVE SEEN ENOUGH KILLING OF INNOCENT UKRAINIAN women = children. President Trump pls put the toughest of sanctions on Putin. U ought to c from clear evidence that he is playing America as a patsy,” Grassley posted.
Trump on Thursday posted on Truth Social that he was “not happy” with the Russian strikes on Kyiv.
“Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!” he wrote.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow for three hours Friday to discuss a possible peace deal, with a Kremlin official describing the meeting as allowing the United States and Russia to “bring their positions closer together.”
