Senate Republican Leader John Thune announced that his party is prepared to vote on a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia at a time the Trump administration deems appropriate.

"We want to bring it to a vote when the White House feels it's beneficial," Thune told reporters when asked about the bill.

On Monday, the Republican leader in the U.S. Senate said that a bill to impose new U.S. sanctions on Russia had been shelved in Congress, although it remained in President Donald Trump's hands.

US Senator Lindsey Graham, known for his anti-Russian rhetoric, has introduced a sanctions bill that would impose 500% US tariffs on goods imported from countries that purchase oil, petroleum products, natural gas, and uranium from Russia.