The bill to strengthen sanctions against Russia, initiated by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, is preparing for a decisive vote in the US Senate. Despite a positive momentum in Washington and optimistic expectations in Kyiv, further passage of the document through Congress promises to be prolonged and complex.
This is reported by Politico.
The main obstacles to the signing of the law remain disputes over the tariff powers of President Donald Trump and the tight schedule of legislators before the August recess.
Complex Path through the Senate
The US Senate has taken a significant step towards adopting the new sanctions package by supporting the document during a procedural vote with a result of 86 against 12.
However, the further path of the bill faces nuances. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch note that for the document to proceed quickly before the recess, all 100 senators must agree on amendments.
Moreover, Donald Trump has already suggested expanding the document by adding tariffs for buyers of Iranian oil similar to the measures against importers of Russian energy resources. Any changes in the text, according to the senators, could complicate the final compromise and delay the signing process until the end of the year.
Prospects for a Vote in the House of Representatives
The biggest stumbling block for legislators remains the provision that grants the White House the right to impose duties against the largest buyers of Russian and Iranian energy resources. A group of Democrats, along with Republican Senator Rand Paul, express concerns about expanding Trump’s tariff powers, fearing their negative impact on the global economy. Representatives of the House of Representatives, including Congressmen Richard Neal and Gregory Meeks, criticize these provisions but indicate readiness for constructive negotiations to reach a compromise.
The House of Representatives will be able to return to considering the sanctions package only in September after the August recess. Senator Jeanne Shaheen is convinced that this time should be used for explanatory work and for addressing the concerns among congressmen. Despite the differences over tariff levers, the Senate remains optimistic about the final adoption of the document in both chambers of Congress, as the majority of legislators understand the importance of maintaining sanction pressure.
Pictured: Zelensky was present during the procedural vote in the US Senate on the sanctions bill. Photo: OPU
