US Senate Majority Leader John Thune said "the time is now" to consider legislation imposing tough new sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, Punchbowl News reported in an exclusive report, citing Senate sources.

According to the publication, Thun, known as a long-standing hawk towards Moscow, emphasized the need to send a "very strong signal" to the Kremlin in a conversation with reporters.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham (listed as an extremist and terrorist by the Russian Federation) and his Democratic colleague Richard Blumenthal, calls for secondary sanctions against countries that continue to trade with Russia, including China and India, which purchase up to 70% of Russia's oil, gas, and uranium exports. The measures include tariffs of up to 500% on imports from Russia or its partners, which, according to the authors, would "change the rules of the game" and force Putin to the negotiating table. The document has already garnered 82 votes in the 100-seat Senate – a rare instance of bipartisan consensus.