That included a Monday joint statement from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal calling Trump’s threat of ramped-up economic penalties if Russia doesn’t cut a peace deal in next 50 days “a real executive hammer to drive the parties to the negotiating table.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a statement to the media at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia May 11, 2025. Sergey Bobylev/Host agency RIA Novosti/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

President Trump’s threat to destroy Russia’s international oil market by Labor Day comes as President Putin pulls up the drawbridges for a closed economy that some call “fortress Russia.” Mr. Trump has given his Russian counterpart 50 days — until September 2 — to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.