Senate Takes Steps on Russia Sanctions 07/29 06:19

   The Senate took the first steps toward passage of a sweeping Russian 
sanctions bill on Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the 
Capitol, moving forward on the legislation to penalize countries that continue 
to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports after more than a year of 
negotiations.

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate took the first steps toward passage of a 
sweeping Russian sanctions bill on Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr 
Zelenskyy in the Capitol, moving forward on the legislation to penalize 
countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports after more 
than a year of negotiations.

   The bipartisan 86-12 procedural vote came hours after a funeral for 
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the bill's chief negotiator. 
Zelenskyy, who was in Washington to attend the service for Graham, met with 
senators beforehand and told them Ukraine is making gains in its war with 
Russia, but still needs more help from the U.S.

   Zelenskyy then went to the Senate gallery to watch the vote, waving in 
support at the senators down below.

   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," Republican Sen. Todd Young of 
Indiana said as he left the meeting.

   In a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote, "We discussed many issues, first and 
foremost, anti-ballistic defense."

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

   Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., announced a deal with the White 
House on the sanctions legislation on July 10, a day before his sudden death, 
likely from an aortic tear. Graham had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, 
where he met with Zelenskyy.

   Blumenthal said Graham told him that the deal they had struck was a "big 
effing deal" in the last conversation they had just before he died.

   "It's a significant part of his legacy," Blumenthal said.

   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 
Senator Graham."

   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."

   Zelenskyy visits the Capitol

   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.

   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.

   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, R-S.D., 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."

   The bill will "send Putin a bipartisan message in a language he 
understands," said New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat. "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."

   Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump earlier in the day, and the two 
discussed ways that the U.S. could help in its war with Russia.

   A long-sought deal on Russian sanctions

   Graham, Blumenthal and other supporters of Ukraine had been working for more 
than a year to negotiate legislation that would win approval from both the 
White House and a majority of senators.

   The bill allows the president to impose tariffs on the world's top five 
purchasers of Russia oil or natural gas -- with China and India at the top of 
that list. It provides exceptions for countries that import less than 15% of 
their natural gas from Russia and are taking steps to reduce those imports.

   The legislation also includes sanctions on Putin, senior Russian political 
and military leaders, Russian financial institutions and Russian energy 
projects. It would expand U.S. sanctions to target older, reflagged oil tankers 
that Russia uses to circumvent existing U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and 
energy revenues.

   The negotiated bill also includes waiver authority for the president, 
allowing the White House to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president 
certifies to Congress that the waiver is in the national interest.

   Negotiators also added an extension of certain sanctions on Iran after Trump 
asked the Senate to add Iran to the bill.

   Some Democrats are skeptical about tariff authority

   While the president's authority was narrowed in the final negotiations, the 
latest version still met with some skepticism from Democrats who did not want 
to give Trump additional powers 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 plans to offer an amendment to change some of the tariff 
provisions in the bill as the Senate debates the measure this week.

   Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, said before the meeting he was still 
undecided on his final vote because of the tariff issue. He said he would 
listen to Zelenskyy's appeal and then make "a game-time decision."