One of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s top envoys came to Washington to lobby the House to pass a sweeping Russia sanctions bill. But Republican leaders have not announced a vote, and a top Democrat says the bill may not reach the floor until after the November elections.
The legislation cleared the Senate 86-11 before senators left for their August recess and is now awaiting House action. The Ukrainian Embassy said meetings with envoy Vladyslav Vlasiuk focused on “the importance and urgency” of passing what it called the “bone crushing” sanctions bill to increase pressure on Russia and Iran.
But Vlasiuk’s meetings did not produce a clear path forward. Lawmakers remain divided over whether to pass the Senate bill unchanged or amp up Ukrainian help as some Democrats want, including more direct support for the country fighting against a Russian invasion. Democrats also want to revise provisions allowing President Donald Trump to impose tariffs.