Ukraine's sanctions official to lobby US lawmakers as Russia sanctions bill faces uncertain House future

Ukraine presses for sanctions bill in Washington

Ukraine's top sanctions official is set to visit Washington this week to lobby members of the S. House of Representatives to back sweeping Russia sanctions legislation that passed the Senate but now faces an uncertain future in the lower chamber.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, President Volodymyr Zelensky's sanctions commissioner, told Reuters on Aug 31 that he is due to arrive in the S. capital on Sept 1 for a trip that will include meetings with lawmakers. Two congressional aides confirmed the visit, saying Vlasiuk would urge support for the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," a measure that would sanction Russian officials and authorize tariffs of up to 100% on countries that are major consumers of Russian energy, including India, Japan, and some European Union nations.

The bill, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July, passed the Senate on August 7 by a vote of 86-11, with strong support from both Democrats and Republicans. It is seen as a signal of continued S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia's full-scale invasion, aiming to cut off revenue Moscow uses to fund the war.

Opposition and divisions in the House

Despite the Senate's overwhelming approval, the bill faces significant hurdles in the House. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said his caucus had not agreed on a position, citing serious concerns among some senior Democrats about the tariff provisions. "It risks providing tariff and sanctions authority to Donald Trump and his administration that we believe they will abuse," Jeffries said.

Republican President Donald Trump supports the bill, but some lawmakers and industries worry that new tariff powers could raise costs for S. importers and consumers, potentially causing political blowback ahead of the November elections. Republicans hold slim majorities in both chambers, and some view tariffs as unwarranted government intrusion in the free market.

The House has not yet scheduled a vote on the legislation. GOP leaders omitted it from the list of bills to be voted on this week, according to Politico Europe. House Rules Chair Virginia Foxx said the bill was not brought up in a chairmen's meeting, adding, "Nobody's talking about it."

Speaker Mike Johnson was noncommittal when asked whether the bill would reach the House floor. "We'll see," he said, attributing the uncertainty to Democratic opposition. "We've been very consistent on taking a strong hand against Russia."

Republican lawmakers expressed mixed views. Rep. Keith Self of Texas said, "I don't know if we're going to pass anything," while Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, a defense hawk, emphasized, "It's very important to pass the sanctions bill." Rep. Thomas Massie said he has never voted to sanction a sovereign country. On the Democratic side, Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois said he opposed giving the executive branch more tariff authority.