The United States Senate overwhelmingly approved a punishing Russian sanctions package Friday, the result of a yearlong campaign by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham to reinforce US support for Ukraine and try to force President Vladimir Putin's hand as the grinding war drags on.
The bipartisan legislation, which passed 86-11, would penalise countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports seeking to deprive Putin of revenues fueling the war. It comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Capitol last week following Graham's funeral, met with senators from both parties and watched from the gallery as the Senate took the first procedural votes.
"Today, President Zelenskyy is watching from Ukraine — and Putin is watching from Moscow," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, who had worked with the late South Carolina senator on the package.
"I would like to think Lindsey Graham is watching, too," he said. "Today we say to the people of Ukraine: You are not alone. And today we say to Vladimir Putin: You will not conquer Ukraine."
The sweeping show of force from the Senate is the most substantial move yet during President Donald Trump's second term to shift the dynamic of the four-year war, which has now churned longer than World War I. Congress has struggled to ensure the flow of US funding and munitions to Ukraine, but Trump has given a nod to the package, which includes his push for sanctions on Iran, pressuring the House to pass and send it for his signature.
