Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the U.S. Senate’s passage of a bill imposing sanctions on Russia and Iran, drafted based on initiatives by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, emphasizing that increasing pressure on the aggressor will help bring the war to an end.
"We are very grateful to the U.S. Senate and to everyone who supports Ukraine. The passage of the Lindsey Graham bill on sanctions against Russia and Iran certainly helps increase pressure on the aggressor to end this insane Russian war against our independence and our people," Zelenskyy said on Facebook.
The president said Ukraine appreciates the support it receives from the United States – from both parties and the entire American people: "Ukraine appreciates all the support the United States provides to Ukraine – from both parties and the entire American people."
According to Zelenskyy, signals of support for protecting lives and ending the war as quickly as possible are particularly important in light of Russian attacks and Ukraine’s need for air defense systems.
"And now, when Putin is making his last-ditch effort to prolong the war by relying on ballistic missiles, and when we are so desperately seeking missiles for our "Patriot" systems to defend ourselves, every signal of support for the protection of life, and in support of ending the war as quickly as possible," the president said.
Zelenskyy said that real U.S. pressure and sanctions against Russia are among the key factors that can help bring the war to an end.
"Real, strong U.S. pressure and sanctions against Russia – that is what will help the most. Diplomacy becomes more achievable with every step of pressure on the aggressor," he said.
The President of Ukraine also thanked everyone who supports increasing sanctions pressure against Russia.
As reported, on Friday, the U.S. Senate approved by a majority vote a sweeping sanctions bill against Russia, drafted based on initiatives by the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
"By a vote of 86-11, the Senate passed H.R. 5334, the legislative vehicle for the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 (60-vote threshold)," the presiding officer said.
The bill is intended to increase economic pressure on Russia, which has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine for the fifth year, and to grant the U.S. president new powers to impose tariffs on buyers of Russian energy resources. According to the document, the tariffs would be up to 100% on goods from countries that remain the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas or facilitate the circumvention of sanctions.
