President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he may let Russia and Ukraine keep fighting has left US lawmakers in an awkward spot over their plan to force a ceasefire with “bone-crushing” sanctions against Moscow.

As the Russian president slow-walks peace talks, GOP leaders hope to pressure their own president into taking a tougher stance.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Vladimir Putin intends to retaliate “very strongly” against Ukraine for a surprise drone strike on Russian airfields over the weekend, a declaration that provoked alarm in Washington and abroad even as Trump touted his efforts to bring peace to the region.