Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posted a collection of photographs from his meetings with the late US Senator Lindsey Graham on social media, accompanied by a brief message: “Thank you for everything, Lindsey!” The post came amid US President Donald Trump’s decision to effectively suspend the implementation of a Russia sanctions law that Graham had championed before his death.
Lindsey Graham was one of Ukraine’s most consistent supporters among Republicans in the US Congress. He visited Ukraine on numerous occasions, advocated greater US military assistance and pushed for tougher economic restrictions against Russia.
The senator died on July 11, 2026. Zelenskyy last met him in Kyiv on July 10, one day before his death. During that meeting, they discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, diplomatic efforts and a new sanctions bill.
On July 29, the Ukrainian president attended Graham’s memorial service in Washington.
Trump signed Graham’s law but halted its implementation
Graham’s most significant legislative initiative during the final months of his life was a sweeping package of sanctions against Russia, developed jointly with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal.
The legislation was designed to increase economic pressure on Moscow, including sanctions targeting Russian officials, banks, shadow fleet vessels and other entities helping finance Russia’s war against Ukraine.
A separate provision called for tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas.
In September 2026, the US Congress passed the legislation with bipartisan support, and Donald Trump subsequently signed it into law.
At the time, Zelenskyy thanked the US president for the decision and stressed that the best way to honor Lindsey Graham’s memory would be to implement the law fully and without delay.
However, on October 16, shortly before the sanctions were due to take effect, Trump signed an executive order exempting a substantial portion of the restrictions established by the law from enforcement.
The US president cited American national interests but did not provide a detailed justification.
As a result, the sanctions package that Graham had championed for months, and which had received support from both Republicans and Democrats, effectively failed to take effect as originally planned.
Trump’s decision draws criticism even from Republicans
The suspension of sanctions followed an agreement between the Trump administration and Russia concerning supplies of Russian diesel fuel to the US and global markets.
Washington justified the move as necessary to bring down energy prices.
However, the decision drew criticism in the US Congress. A group of 12 senators, including six Republicans, urged Trump to abandon the agreements with Moscow and enforce the sanctions mechanisms established under Graham’s law.
Criticism intensified after the sanctions were suspended.
One of the legislation’s co-authors, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, accused the Trump administration of acting against the intentions of Congress and weakening pressure on Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy warns of further sanctions relief
On October 17, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expected the United States to take further steps to ease sanctions against Russia.
“Unfortunately, sanctions will continue to be lifted. I believe the diesel deal is the first step,” the president told journalists.
According to Zelenskyy, such decisions do not help bring the war to an end and may instead give Putin a sense of support.
At the same time, the Ukrainian president expressed hope that Trump would still make efforts to stop Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and end the war.
Against this backdrop, Zelenskyy’s publication of photographs with Lindsey Graham and his brief message of gratitude to the late senator take on particular significance.
Graham devoted the final months of his life to advancing sanctions legislation intended to increase pressure on Russia. Yet less than a month after signing the law, the US president used the powers it provided to exempt a substantial portion of its restrictions from enforcement.
