The Senate took a major step Tuesday toward approving a broad new sanctions package targeting Russia, voting to advance legislation designed to punish countries that continue purchasing Russian oil, natural gas, and other exports. The procedural vote came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Capitol, where he urged lawmakers to continue supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The bipartisan measure cleared its first hurdle by an 86-12 vote just hours after senators attended the funeral of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who had been the legislation’s chief architect. Zelenskyy, who traveled to Washington for Graham’s funeral, met privately with senators before the vote and told them Ukraine is gaining momentum on the battlefield but still requires additional American assistance.

After the meeting, Zelenskyy watched the Senate proceedings from the gallery, acknowledging lawmakers below with waves of appreciation as the vote unfolded.

Sen. Todd Young of Indiana said Zelenskyy stressed that the sanctions package carries significance beyond its economic impact.

At the meeting, Zelenskyy told senators that the sanctions legislation “is important as a moral signal to a country that is weary and tired, though holding its own and then some against Russia,” Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., said as he left the meeting.

Following the vote, Zelenskyy posted on X that the discussions focused primarily on strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses and praised the Senate’s action as an important milestone.

“We discussed many issues, first and foremost, anti-ballistic defense.

“It was an honor to be present as the votes were counted,” he said. “This is the first step toward implementing Lindsey’s plans, and certainly a step toward peace.”

The legislation represents months of negotiations led by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. The two senators announced they had reached an agreement with the White House on July 10, just one day before Graham’s unexpected death, believed to have resulted from an aortic tear. Graham had recently returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he met personally with Zelenskyy.

Blumenthal recalled that Graham considered the agreement one of the defining accomplishments of his career.

Blumenthal said Graham told him that the deal they had struck was a “big [expletive] deal” in the last conversation they had just before he died.

“It’s a significant part of his legacy,” Blumenthal said.

According to Blumenthal, support for the measure has continued to grow because of Ukraine’s improving military position, the extensive bipartisan negotiations behind the bill, and lawmakers’ desire to honor Graham’s work.

He said the bill has momentum partly because Ukraine is turning the tide in the war, because the bill was carefully negotiated and “there’s feeling about Sen. Graham.”

Blumenthal added that Zelenskyy’s attendance during the vote made the moment especially meaningful.

Zelenskyy’s presence also helps, Blumenthal said, and “watching his face when he was in the gallery as we were voting was truly a moment of joy.”

Young said Zelenskyy projected confidence during the closed-door meeting, telling senators that Ukrainian forces are making meaningful gains in several areas of the conflict.

In Zelenskyy’s latest visit to the Capitol, his message was “positive,” Young said, and he talked about how the Ukrainians are making good progress against Russia in different areas of the war.

Young argued that the sanctions legislation is a critical tool for weakening Russia’s economy and increasing pressure on President Vladimir Putin to negotiate.

The bill is a “keystone in that overall effort” to handicap the Russian economy and drive Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, Young said.

Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia said Zelenskyy conveyed a striking level of optimism about Ukraine’s current position in the war.

Zelenskyy told them that “they are winning the war now,” said Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va.

“In the first year it was survival. The next three years was getting your feet under you. But now they are winning,” Justice said.

Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota said Zelenskyy believes stronger sanctions could significantly increase pressure on the Kremlin to negotiate an end to the conflict.

Rounds said Zelenskyy told the senators that “Putin would think a little bit more about trying to negotiate a settlement if the sanctions were in place and actually creating more irritation.”

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said the legislation sends a clear bipartisan message to Moscow while reinforcing American support for Ukraine.

The bill will “send Putin a bipartisan message in a language he understands,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.

“This is our best opportunity to support Ukraine. We are defending not just their country but the rest of Europe from an increasingly aggressive Russia.”

Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy also met with President Donald Trump, where the two leaders discussed additional ways the United States could assist Ukraine in its war effort.

The sanctions package is the product of more than a year of negotiations involving Graham, Blumenthal, and other lawmakers seeking legislation capable of winning support from both the White House and a bipartisan majority in the Senate.

Among its key provisions, the bill authorizes the president to impose tariffs on the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas, including China and India. It also exempts countries that receive less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are actively reducing those imports.

The legislation further targets Putin, senior Russian government and military officials, major financial institutions, and Russian energy projects. It also expands sanctions against aging oil tankers that Russia has used to evade existing restrictions on its energy exports.

Negotiators included language allowing the president to waive certain sanctions or restrictions if the administration certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

At President Trump’s request, lawmakers also added provisions extending certain sanctions against Iran.

Despite broad bipartisan support, some Democrats remain uneasy about granting the president expanded authority to impose tariffs.

“It is extremely dangerous to give Trump massive new tariff powers, particularly after we’ve seen the disastrous impacts of his corrupt, chaotic, and inflationary tariff spree,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in a statement with Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass.

Wyden said he intends to introduce an amendment modifying the tariff provisions as debate continues this week.

Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona said before meeting with Zelenskyy that he remained undecided because of the tariff language and planned to make “a game-time decision” after hearing the Ukrainian president’s appeal.

{Matzav.com}