"For the sake of America’s national security and that of our allies, I hope President Trump will put an end to this speculation" about restoring sanctions, Sen. John McCain said in a statement, | AP Photo Republicans warn Trump against lifting Russia sanctions

Two Republican senators on Friday warned President Donald Trump not to unilaterally ease sanctions against Russia — reminding him there's bipartisan support for blocking such a move.

Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain and Ohio GOP Sen. Rob Portman urged Trump to rule out any rollback of punitive measures against Moscow hours after White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said lifting administration sanctions against Moscow is "under consideration." The latest round of sanctions were imposed in response to U.S. intelligence officials' conclusion that Russia interfered in the presidential election on Trump's behalf.


"For the sake of America’s national security and that of our allies, I hope President Trump will put an end to this speculation" about easing sanctions, McCain said in a statement, "and reject such a reckless course. If he does not, I will work with my colleagues to codify sanctions against Russia into law."

Portman urged fellow senators to "take pro-active steps" by converting administration sanctions into law, saying he is "deeply concerned" by reports that Trump may be preparing to ease U.S. financial restrictions on targeted Russian individuals and groups.

"To lift the sanctions on Russia for any reason other than a change in the behavior that led to those sanctions in the first place would send a dangerous message to a world already questioning the value of American leadership and the credibility of our commitments after eight years of Obama administration policies," the Ohioan said in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) also urged Trump to preserve existing sanctions against Russia, the former in an interview with POLITICO and the latter at a POLITICO-sponsored event. Neither Republican leader made a firm commitment to pursuing legislation that would codify the sanctions into law, however.

McCain earlier this week vowed to oppose any Trump effort to revive the use of torture against detained terrorism suspects. He and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are spearheading a bipartisan push to require congressional approval before Trump lifts any sanctions against Putin's government.

Two rounds of executive sanctions against Russia came in 2014 after Putin's military aggression against the Ukraine, and former President Barack Obama expanded the punitive measures last month after an intelligence report cataloged Russian cyberattacks during the election.

During Trump's call with Putin, McCain added, the president "should remember that the man on the other end of the line is a murderer and a thug who seeks to undermine American national security interests at every turn. For our commander in chief to think otherwise would be naive and dangerous."’