With US bill’s fate in balance, Ukraine to lobby US on Russia sanctions

Ukraine’s sanctions chief is set to travel to Washington this week to lobby U.S. legislators for support of a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that cleared the Senate but faces opposition from some influential Democrats. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s sanctions commissioner, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, will meet with lawmakers on Tuesday, alongside discussions on the Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.

The bill, named after late Senator Lindsey Graham, passed the Senate on August 7 with overwhelming support, including from Democrats and fellow Republicans. This legislation aims to tighten economic pressure on Russia by restricting sources of revenue used to fund its invasion of Ukraine. While the measure enjoys strong bipartisan backing, it may struggle to gain approval in the House due to concerns among lawmakers and industries over potential tariff consequences.

The bill, which could be signed into law by President Trump, would empower him to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries heavily reliant on Russian energy, including India and European nations. Democrats have expressed reservations, arguing that the tariff provisions could be abused by Trump and expose Republicans to political backlash ahead of the midterm elections.