Trump, US senators agree on tougher sanctions targeting Russian oil buyers

Four bipartisan US senators said they had reached an agreement with the Trump administration to advance a tougher Russia sanctions bill targeting countries that buy Russian oil and gas, aiming to increase pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine war

In Short

• 4 US senators agree with Trump admin on tougher Russia sanctions bill
• Senator Graham met Ukraine's Zelenskyy, says bill will become law
• Zelenskyy urges stronger sanctions to boost Ukraine's battlefield strength

Four US senators said on Friday that they had reached an agreement with the Trump administration to move forward with updated legislation imposing tougher sanctions on Russia, as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.

Senators Richard Blumenthal, Lindsey Graham, Jeanne Shaheen and Roger Wicker announced the breakthrough in a joint statement, saying they expected to unveil the updated legislation soon.

"We are proud to announce that we have reached an agreement with the Trump Administration to move our updated Russia sanctions legislation forward. We are very pleased with this significant progress and expect to roll out the legislation very soon," the senators said.

The lawmakers said stronger measures were necessary as Russia stepped up attacks on civilians in Ukraine.

"As Russia intensifies its slaughter of civilians, it is imperative that the legislative and executive branches work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fuelling the Putin war machine," the statement said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Graham, who met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday during his 10th visit to the Ukrainian capital, said the agreement would allow the legislation to move ahead and provide President Donald Trump with additional tools to help end the war.

"We've reached an agreement with the White House on a version of the Russian sanctions bill that they will support. It means it's going to become law," Graham told reporters.

Graham has worked with fellow Republicans and Democrats on the legislation for months. The bill would impose sanctions on countries doing business with Russia, including buyers of Russian energy exports, over Moscow's failure to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

The timing of the legislation could prove challenging amid renewed pressure on oil prices following fresh military strikes on Iran. Last month, Washington allowed a license permitting countries to purchase Russian seaborne oil to expire. The license had been intended to help vulnerable countries cope with the energy crisis.

Zelenskyy welcomed Graham's support in a post on X and stressed the need to increase pressure on Moscow.

"The stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield, the greater the chances that diplomacy will ultimately succeed. And right now, it is important that our long-range sanctions pressure on Russia be reinforced through new sanctions steps by our partners," Zelenskyy said.

Trump met Zelenskyy earlier this week in Ankara in a meeting that marked a sharp shift from his previous criticism of the Ukrainian leader, whom he had previously called "ungrateful." During the meeting, Trump said the United States would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors, a move Kyiv had sought for a long time.

Trump said on Wednesday that he and Zelenskyy had developed a "very good" relationship and that both Moscow and Kyiv wanted to end the war that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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