The sanctions bill against Russia is approaching a vote in the US Senate: what is known

The bill to strengthen sanctions against Russia, initiated by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, is approaching a key stage of consideration in the US Senate. Despite the broad support of the document among senators and positive signals for Ukraine, final approval may be delayed due to political disputes and legislative procedures.

This is reported by Politico.

Senate supports the first stage of consideration

The US Senate has already taken an important step towards adopting a new sanctions package. During the procedural vote, 86 senators supported the bill, while 12 spoke against it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also present during the vote in the Senate, which emphasized the importance of the document for Kyiv.

However, a number of difficult negotiations await lawmakers ahead. According to Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch, in order for the document to be approved before the August recess, all 100 senators must agree on the final version and possible amendments.

Trump’s proposals may delay the process

One of the main reasons for the delay was US President Donald Trump’s proposals to expand the sanctions package.

In particular, the head of the White House proposes to include in the bill a mechanism for imposing tariffs not only on buyers of Russian energy resources, but also against countries that import oil from Iran.

Any changes to the already agreed text may require additional negotiations between Republicans and Democrats, which, according to American lawmakers, could delay the final adoption of the document even until the end of the year.

The House of Representatives will return to the issue in the fall

After the Senate’s consideration, the bill must also pass the House of Representatives.

However, this is unlikely to happen in the near future, as congressmen will soon go on their traditional August vacation. It is expected that the House of Representatives will return to the sanctions package only in September.

The issue of the president’s tariff powers is causing additional discussions. Some Democrats, together with Republican Senator Rand Paul, fear that expanding the White House’s ability to impose tariffs could negatively affect international trade and the global economy.

At the same time, representatives of the House of Representatives, including Richard Neal and Gregory Meeks, declare their readiness to work on a compromise version of the document.

Are there any chances of its adoption

Despite political differences, the US Congress remains optimistic about the prospects of the bill. American lawmakers emphasize that the vast majority of members of Congress support the need for further sanctions pressure on Russia.

That is why, after the summer recess, negotiations on the document should continue, and its final adoption remains one of the priorities of the American parliament.