Kyiv Urges Graham Sanctions as Trump Cuts Deal With Putin
Zelensky urged a bipartisan US congressional delegation visiting Kyiv to enforce the Lindsey Graham sanctions law and accelerate joint Patriot interceptor production. The meeting took place under a Russian drone threat, as Trump struck a diesel deal with Putin that could provide Moscow with fresh revenue to sustain its invasion.
On Friday, October 9, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine urged visiting U.S. lawmakers in Kyiv to ensure the full implementation of the Lindsey Graham sanctions law, even as President Donald Trump cut a separate energy deal with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. The U.S. delegation consisted of Republican Senators Roger Wicker and Kevin Cramer, Democratic Representative Marc Veasey, and Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw.
During their meeting, Zelensky and the lawmakers focused on strengthening Ukraine's security, expanding air defenses, and increasing economic pressure on Russia as the country braced for winter. Zelensky expressed gratitude to the American congressional delegation for standing with Ukrainians amid Russia's persistent missile and drone attacks.
He warned that Russia was escalating its attacks on Ukrainian cities due to failing on the battlefield. The lawmakers witnessed daily dangers faced by Ukrainians, with an air raid alert in effect during the meeting due to Shahed drones. Since October, Russian drone strikes damaged two schools in the capital, and Russian attacks targeted bridges, energy facilities, and other critical infrastructure.
Zelensky emphasized the need for stronger international cooperation to defend Ukrainian civilians against Russia's aerial campaign. He also called for the implementation of the Lindsey Graham law, stressing that it was a matter of political will and showed leadership. The same day Zelensky made his appeal, Trump announced a deal with Putin regarding the sale of Russian diesel fuel to the U.S. and global markets.
The deal included 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, 500,000 tons in November, and an additional 1 million tons afterward. Trump claimed the agreement would lower fuel prices and benefit American farmers, ranchers, and truckers. The U.S. Treasury Department issued General License 135, authorizing certain transactions involving Russian diesel, which ran through April 7, 2027.
Critics, including Zelensky and U.S. lawmakers, argued that the renewed Russian energy sales would provide Moscow with additional resources to finance its war.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
