'Game changer': Bipartisan senators gunning for Russia sanctions ready to give Trump runway

The bill had been sidelined by congressional Republicans' push to pass the president's "big, beautiful bill" and had been eyed for a vote possibly by the end of the month.

The president's warning came after he agreed to sell weapons to NATO, which, in turn, would be sent to Ukraine to resupply their dwindling stocks.

"We're pleased that the president sort of buys into that way of doing business. We'll continue to work with the White House to see if we can provide him a tool that Congress has been working on," Graham said.  

Their bill would slap up to 500% tariffs on countries buying energy products from Moscow in a bid to kneecap Russia's war machine by imposing duties on oil, gas, uranium and other exports, largely purchased by China and India, which account for nearly three-quarters of Moscow's energy business.

But that doesn't mean that work on the bill has ceased. Graham noted that having Congress' blessing "is good for the president" and could help him legally and politically.

"But between the weapons flowing and sanctions through tariffs on the table, I think we can say today was a game changer that we've been waiting on and hoping for, and on day 51 you want to know what happens," Graham said. "Call the Ayatollah."

"Our bill is a sledgehammer," Blumenthal said.