U.S. SENATORS SAY WHITE HOUSE DEAL REACHED ON RUSSIA SANCTIONS BILL

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators said they had reached agreement with the Trump administration on legislation to impose new sanctions on Russia and on countries buying Russian oil and gas, according to Reuters. Senators Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, Jeanne Shaheen and Roger Wicker said the updated bill followed months of negotiations with the White House and is intended to increase pressure on Moscow over its continued war in Ukraine.

Reuters reported that the legislation would target countries engaged in Russian energy trade, a central source of revenue for Moscow despite Western sanctions imposed since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The proposal is designed to penalize foreign buyers of Russian oil and gas, though the final details of the updated bill had not yet been released at the time of reporting.

Graham said the administration's support makes the bill more likely to become law, according to Reuters. He spoke from Kyiv after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who welcomed the sanctions push and said stronger economic pressure on Russia was needed to support diplomacy.

The Financial Times also reported that U.S. senators had reached a bipartisan agreement with the Trump administration to strengthen sanctions targeting Russia and countries buying Russian oil and gas. The report said the deal marks a shift after months of debate over how far Washington should go in using secondary sanctions against countries that continue buying Russian energy.

The bill comes as Washington's approach to Ukraine has shown signs of renewed support. Reuters reported that Trump's tone toward Zelenskiy appeared to soften after a recent meeting in Ankara, and that Trump promised a license allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot missile interceptors. The Financial Times reported that Patriot systems remain a key Ukrainian priority because they are among the most important Western tools for defending against Russian ballistic missiles.

The sanctions proposal could affect major Russian energy customers if enacted. Secondary sanctions are designed to pressure non-U.S. companies, banks or governments that continue doing business with a sanctioned target, making them one of Washington's most powerful but diplomatically sensitive economic tools. Reuters reported that senators said the new bill is aimed at countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, but the exact enforcement structure will depend on the final legislative text.

The measure also comes as energy markets remain sensitive to war risk. Reuters reported that rising global oil prices and recent military developments involving Iran complicate the enforcement environment for sanctions. A tougher approach toward Russian energy could increase pressure on Moscow, but it could also create diplomatic and market challenges if major importers resist U.S. penalties.

The immediate question is whether Senate leaders bring the bill forward quickly and whether the House takes up the same language. The senators said they had agreement with the administration, but the bill still must move through Congress before any sanctions become law.

Fact-check date: 10 July 2026
Article type: News
Sources: Reuters, Financial Times, U.S. senators, Ukrainian official statements reported by Reuters