The U.S. Senate voted procedurally to advance a sweeping sanctions bill against Russia, with 86 senators voting in favor and 12 opposing it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in the Senate gallery and watched the vote.
The Associated Press reported this.
Before the vote, Zelenskyy met with senators and said that Ukraine was making gains in the war against Russia but still needed more assistance from the United States. During the meeting, the sides discussed many issues, primarily anti-ballistic defense.
The bill had been under development for more than a year. Its chief negotiators were Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, who announced an agreement with the White House on the legislation on July 10.
The bill allows the U.S. president to impose tariffs on the five largest purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas. China and India top the list, while exemptions are provided for countries that import less than 15% of their gas from Russia and are reducing such purchases.
The legislation also includes sanctions against Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, financial institutions and energy projects. The restrictions are also proposed to cover older oil tankers operating under changed flags, which Russia uses to circumvent existing sanctions.
The U.S. president would have the authority to waive sanctions or restrictions after certifying to Congress that doing so is in the national interest. The bill also includes an extension of certain sanctions against Iran.
Some Democratic senators expressed concern over the expansion of Donald Trump’s tariff powers. Senator Ron Wyden said he planned to propose an amendment to the relevant provisions during the bill’s further consideration.
