Ukraine Welcomes US House Passage of Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Thursday welcomed the US House of Representatives' approval of a sweeping sanctions bill targeting Russia, describing it as a significant move to increase pressure on Moscow.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Kyiv with Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer, Sybiha said the legislation raises the cost of Russia's continued aggression and deprives its war machine of resources. He expressed hope that the step would mark the beginning of a new round of intensified pressure from other partners as well, and stressed that efforts should not stop there.

The House passed the broad sanctions package on Wednesday, aiming to cut off the financial resources President Vladimir Putin needs to sustain the war against Ukraine. The bill is named after the late US Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who spent more than a year negotiating it. It was approved by a vote of 262-159 and now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The measure represents the most ambitious effort to support Ukraine since Trump returned to the White House, breaking nearly two years of relative gridlock that followed a 2024 emergency aid package. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had pushed for its passage and made a direct appeal to senators shortly before they approved it last month.

The legislation would sanction Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving. It would also direct Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.

On the prospect of a truce, Sybiha said Ukraine is ready, but that no signs of readiness have been seen from the Russian side. He welcomed the efforts of partners, particularly the United States, and said that with active US involvement a truce is a realistic goal. He added that preparations are under way for a meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, and that achieving a truce covering both the energy sector and the Black Sea could be one of its key outcomes.