Half of the Senate, led by Sens. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat, introduced a bipartisan bill on Tuesday to impose sanctions against Russia if the Kremlin refuses to negotiate a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Half of the U.S. Senate - 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats - joined together on Tuesday to introduce sanctions that would be imposed on Russia if it refuses to engage in good faith negotiations for peace with Ukraine.

Trump has criticised both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky over the deadlocked peace talks. Warming ties between Washington and Moscow since Trump's return to office and his threats to stop supporting Kyiv have bolstered Russia on the battlefield as it pursues its floundering invasion.