Republican lawmakers are calling for “crippling” sanctions against Russia after Moscow launched its largest-ever drone attack on Ukraine — defying President Trump’s call for an end to the bloodshed.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who is co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill to impose harsh sanctions and tariffs on Russia and its allies, said the assault that killed at least 13 people on Sunday cannot go unpunished. 

“This latest outrage by Russia will not go unaddressed,” Graham wrote on X. “Without China’s support, Putin’s war machine comes to a halt.” 

Republican lawmakers called for “crippling” sanctions against Russia after Vladimir Putin launched the largest drones strike against Ukraine of the war. Sergei Savostyanov/TASS via ZUMA Press

An apartment building hit by a Russian strike in Kyiv on May 24, 2025. Photo by Andriy Zhyhaylo/Oboz.ua/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) also joined his GOP colleague and pleaded directly with the president to join the rest of the Western world in addressing Russia’s increased aggression.

“I’ve had enuf [sic] of Putin killing innocent ppl [sic],” Grassley vented on X. “Pres Trump Take action AT LEAST SANCTIONS.”

Russia unleashed 355 drones and nine cruise missiles overnight Sunday, the Ukrainian air force said, making it the biggest aerial bombardment in the war to date.

The onslaught capped off a brutal three days in which Kremlin forces launched around 900 drones at Ukraine, officials said.

Trump — who previously promised he would end the war “on day one” of his second presidential term — slammed Putin as “absolutely crazy” on Sunday, but stopped short of announcing tougher sanctions on the regime.

“The United States cannot fail to respond as Putin escalates his barbaric assault on innocent Ukrainians. Congress must act—immediately and decisively,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) demanded on X Sunday.

“We need full, crippling sanctions — targeting Putin, his regime, and those bankrolling this campaign of terror — until the Russian war machine collapses in on itself,” he added.

Balconies in a residential building destroyed by the attack in Kyiv. Photo by Andriy Zhyhaylo/Oboz.ua/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Rescue workers at the scene of a Russian strike in Kyiv. SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

“[Putin’s] goal is to dominate Ukraine & he won’t stop until he realizes he cannot win,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) declared on X.

“The US & Allies must arm Ukraine to the teeth, sanction Russia to the max, & confiscate the $300B in overseas Russian assets,” he added.

In an impassioned plea on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said things must “change.”

Ukrainian firefighters and rescuers work at a storage facility of a factory that was hit by a Russian strike in Vasyshcheve, Ukraine on May 26, 2025. SERGEY KOZLOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Firefighters working to extinguish a fire at a residential building in Kyiv. Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

“New and strong sanctions against Russia — from the United States, from Europe, and from all those around the world who seek peace — will serve as a guaranteed means of forcing Russia not only to cease fire, but also to show respect,” Zelensky wrote on X.

“Putin must start respecting those he talks to. For now, he is simply playing games with diplomacy and with diplomats. That must change,” he declared.

Last week, European leaders hit Russia with sanctions over Putin’s refusal to accept a US-backed cease-fire deal. Trump refused to join despite threatening “further sanctions” on Moscow if it continued to reject the peace talks earlier this month.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick said the US must act immediately and decisively to sanction Russia. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision as a tactic to keep Russia at the negotiating table despite the commander in chief’s suggestion that the US would end its mediating efforts in Ukraine.

However, while Trump hesitates on announcing further action, 81 senators have pledged their support of a bill to impose sanctions against the Kremlin, as well as a 500% tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas and other products.

“Our legislation will isolate Russia — putting it on a trade island by imposing stiff tariffs on other countries that support these atrocities,” Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Graham said in a joint statement on the bill.

“While we yearn for peace, it is increasingly clear to us — and a supermajority of the Senate — that Putin is playing games. The United States Senate stands ready to act if these games continue,” they added.

Russia was also notably the only country absent from Trump’s list of nations to be slapped with at least a 10% tariff in April.

The White House said Russia’s exclusion was down to previously imposed sanctions already preventing “any meaningful trade” with Moscow.