US sanctions bill gives Ukraine new leverage against Russia

The US Congress has cleared a fresh sanctions package targeting Russia's officials, banks and oil network. For Ukraine, its real value will depend on how firmly Washington enforces the new powers.Image used for representational purposes onlyUkraine sees a new US sanctions package as another way to raise the cost of war for Russia and push Moscow towards serious negotiations. The measure, approved by the House this week after clearing the Senate in August, targets Russian officials, financial institutions and the network of tankers used to move Russian oil while avoiding sanctions. Its impact, however, will depend on whether and how strongly the United States enforces it.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday called the House vote "symbolic", saying it came on the same night Russia launched another large-scale attack across Ukraine, something the full implementation of the package would derail. The Kremlin, however, said more US sanctions would make peace efforts harder. "We are, of course, monitoring the passing of this document. This falls into the category of unfriendly actions. And, of course, the US imposing some additional sanctions would definitely complicate the efforts to find a peace settlement in Ukraine," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during his daily conference call.For Kyiv, the package offers another economic tool to pressure Moscow. Ukraine has argued that existing Western sanctions have imposed significant costs on Russia but have not delivered the swift and severe impact needed to change Moscow's calculations. "The US House of Representatives' passage of the Graham bill last night marks an important step toward further pressuring Russia, raising the cost of its continued aggression, and depriving the Russian war machine of resources," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday. "It is crucial not to stop there. We very much hope that this decisive move will...signal the start of a new round of intensified pressure from other partners as well."The legislation also gives President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, subject to specified exemptions. The measure passed the Senate 86-11 in August and the House 262-159 on Wednesday, sending it to Trump for his signature. Kyiv has also tried to push the costs of war deeper into Russia through long-range strikes on oil refineries and energy infrastructure. The sanctions add economic pressure to that military effort, especially if they are used against buyers and networks that help sustain Russian energy exports. Analysts said the immediate value for Ukraine is political as much as economic. "For Ukraine, the immediate benefit is political, not economic. Congress signaling political solidarity with Ukraine via its legislative support sends a valuable message to the Kremlin," said Tom Keatinge, director of the Centre for Finance and Security at RUSI.The bill's passage followed months of diplomatic work. Securing tougher economic pressure has been a central part of Zelenskyy's lobbying. The bill is named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and helping it cross the finish line was his final legislative effort after more than a year of negotiations. Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, along with other Ukraine supporters, worked for more than a year to build support and negotiate a version that could win backing from both the White House and Congress. Zelenskyy also stepped up his lobbying of US lawmakers, including in a closed-door meeting with senators after Graham's funeral, where he argued for continued US support and for sanctions aimed at cutting the oil and gas revenues funding Moscow's war effort. He also told lawmakers the legislation was needed to weaken Russia's ability to sustain the war and to boost the morale of Ukrainian troops and civilians. The effectiveness of the package now depends on how far the Trump administration is willing to go. "Sanctions must be strong so that all efforts for peace, and in particular our joint diplomatic efforts with the United States, Europe, and other friends, are effective," Zelenskyy said on Thursday. But the bill gives the president discretion over how it is implemented, including over tariffs and the power to waive certain sanctions under specified conditions. "Ultimately, this comes down to Trump's commitment. He already has the tools to sanction Russia on his desk but has chosen to ignore supporting Ukraine in favor of a belief that his skill as a negotiator can end the war. Perhaps he has finally realized that economic pressure - his preferred response to all disputes - is the right tool in this case too," Keatinge said. Some lawmakers are concerned the administration could either use the tariff powers too broadly, potentially affecting US allies, or choose not to enforce the sanctions as strongly as supporters want. So far, Trump has favoured diplomacy with Moscow, leaving open the question of how aggressively his administration will use the new powers.For Ukraine, the sanctions package is both a sign of US political backing and a possible new source of economic pressure on Russia, though its real effect will depend on how fully Washington chooses to use it.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 18, 2026 06:34 IST