[AP: Zelenskyy visits U.S., Senate advances sanctions bill against Russia, China and India featured on list]
On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate launched the procedural review of a major sanctions bill targeting Russia. Zelenskyy appeared at the Capitol, where senators pushed forward the legislation. The bill aims to penalize countries continuing to purchase Russian oil, natural gas, and other export goods.
The preparation of the related bill has taken over a year.
The bipartisan procedural vote ended with 86 votes in favor and 12 opposed. Just hours before the vote, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham—leading the initiative—had just attended a funeral.
Zelenskyy traveled specially to Washington to attend Graham’s memorial service. Prior to the vote, he met with several senators, stating that Ukraine continues to achieve military successes in its fight against Russia, but still urgently needs American support.
After the meeting, Zelenskyy went to the Senate gallery to observe the voting process, waving at the senators below as a gesture of gratitude.
Republican Senator Todd Young of Indiana revealed after the meeting: “During the discussion, Zelenskyy emphasized that this sanctions bill carries significant symbolic value. The Ukrainian people have endured war and exhaustion, yet they are not only resisting tenaciously—they are also making continuous progress on the battlefield.”
Richard Blumenthal, the lead Democratic sponsor of the bill, shared that shortly before Graham’s passing, their last conversation saw Graham describe the agreement reached with the White House as “an extremely significant achievement,” adding, “This is an important political legacy he leaves behind.”
Todd Young said Zelenskyy’s visit to Congress sent a positive signal. The Ukrainian president reported notable advances by Ukrainian forces across multiple fronts in confronting Russian troops. Young believes this bill serves as a foundation for united pressure, aiming to weaken Russia’s economy and force Putin to the negotiating table.
Republican Senator Jim Justice quoted Zelenskyy: “In the first year of the war, we fought for survival; in the next three years, we stabilized our position; now, we are winning this war.”
Republican Senator Mike Lee echoed Zelenskyy’s sentiment: “If sanctions had been implemented earlier and exerted more real pressure, Putin would have taken the conflict resolution seriously.”
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen stated that the bill sends a unified two-party message to Putin in a way he can understand: “This is our best opportunity to support Ukraine. We are not just protecting Ukraine—we are safeguarding all of Europe from Russia’s increasingly expansionist ambitions.”
Graham, Blumenthal, and other pro-Ukraine lawmakers spent over a year refining the bill. The legislation is set to be effective for five years, authorizing the U.S. President to impose tariffs on the world’s top five importers of Russian oil and gas—China and India prominently listed among them.
The bill includes exemption provisions: countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and actively reducing purchases will be exempt from these sanctions.
The legislation also plans to impose sanctions on Putin, senior Russian military and political officials, Russian financial institutions, and energy projects. It further expands U.S. sanctions to include aging oil tankers used by Russia to circumvent energy restrictions and re-register vessels under different flags.
The negotiated version of the bill grants the President discretion: the U.S. President may inform Congress that certain sanctions or tariffs should be delayed if deemed in the national interest.
Although the bill somewhat restricts presidential authority, the latest version still draws criticism from some Democratic lawmakers who are reluctant to grant additional tariff powers to Trump.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872012417456128/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.