The Senate took the first steps toward passing a Russian sanctions bill on Tuesday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance. The bipartisan 86-12 procedural vote came hours after a funeral for Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the bill’s chief negotiator.

Sanctions Legislation

Zelenskyy met with senators beforehand and told them that Ukraine is making gains in its war with Russia, but still needs more help from the U.S. The bill allows the president to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, with China and India at the top of that list.

The legislation also includes sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, Russian financial institutions, and Russian energy projects. It would expand U.S. sanctions to target older, reflagged oil tankers that Russia uses to circumvent existing U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

Support for Ukraine

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the bill has momentum partly because Ukraine is turning the tide in the war, and because the bill was carefully negotiated. Zelenskyy’s presence also helps, Blumenthal said, and “watching his face when he was in the gallery as we were voting was truly a moment of joy.”

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said Zelenskyy told the senators that “Putin would think a little bit more about trying to negotiate a settlement if the sanctions were in place and actually creating more irritation.” The bill will “send Putin a bipartisan message in a language he understands,” said New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.