That included a Monday joint statement from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal calling Trump’s threat of ramped-up economic penalties if Russia doesn’t cut a peace deal in next 50 days “a real executive hammer to drive the parties to the negotiating table.”

Donald Trump wants the public to believe that Vladimir Putin “didn’t fool” him, but the Republican's recent record is in the way of his absurd talking point.

President Trump’s threat to destroy Russia’s international oil market by Labor Day comes as President Putin pulls up the drawbridges for a closed economy that some call “fortress Russia.” Mr. Trump has given his Russian counterpart 50 days — until September 2 — to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.