US President Donald Trump's administration is discreetly encouraging the United States Senate to ease planned Russian sanctions, The Wall Street Journal reported. 

The White House is particularly interested in pushing Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to soften his sanctions legislation, according to the report. Rather than focusing on retribution for the Ukraine war, the Trump administration is thought to be seeking a broader normalization of relations with Moscow. 

White House officials and other agencies have privately contacted Graham's office in recent weeks, urging modifications to the measure that would give the president more power over who to sanction and under what circumstances, congressional aides told the WSJ.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.), the lead Democratic co-sponsor on Graham’s bill, confirmed the private negotiations with the White House but declined to comment on their substance. “We’re moving ahead and the White House is included in our conversations,” he said.

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 now boasts 82 bipartisan co-sponsors in the Senate, enough to override a presidential veto. A matching bill introduced in the House by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) has gained 60 backers, split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.

Another way to water down the legislation would be to replace the word "shall" with "may" to make the punishments discretionary rather than required.

A more diplomatic approach

Trump also declared publicly yesterday that he believes the Senate's proposed sanctions are unduly harsh.

The US president, upon his return, has tread a more diplomatic path with Russia, especially as he reduced military support for Kiev.

Democrats, who are aligned with Republicans on the need for strong sanctions, recognize that some adjustments may be needed, according to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

“I could foresee some scenario where it would be so watered down we wouldn’t like it, but I don’t think Lindsey is going to agree to that,” Kaine said. “Lindsey’s been tough on this and if he thinks some minor adjustments could work I’m still going to be favorably inclined.”