Ukraine Pushes Congress for Russia Sanctions Before Election Recess
Ukraine’s top sanctions official says he remains optimistic about prospects for a sweeping Russia sanctions bill in the US Congress despite growing uncertainty over when the House of Representatives will take it up, as lawmakers face a sharply shortened legislative calendar ahead of the November elections. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s sanctions commissioner, spent…
Ukrainian sanctions chief, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, expressed optimism about a broad Russia sanctions bill in the US Congress despite a shortened legislative calendar heading into the November elections. The bill, Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, passed the Senate in August with overwhelming bipartisan agreement.
It would give the president greater authority to impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian fossil fuels and includes provisions targeting Iran, which Vlasiuk noted cooperates militarily with Russia.
However, the House passage is more uncertain as some Democrats have reservations about provisions granting President Trump additional tariff authority. Republican leaders announced the cancellation of the final two weeks of the pre-election House session, leaving just one week of business after Labor Day. This compressed schedule has heightened pressure on supporters of the sanctions bill.
Vlasiuk held numerous meetings with lawmakers and staff during his Washington visit, receiving broad support for increasing pressure on Russia. He believes there is a "good chance" the bill will be brought to the floor, perhaps under suspension of the rules. While Democrats express cautious optimism, they express concern about Trump's expanded tariff authority and the bill's optional sanctions provisions, which they view as weaker than the original version.
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