Kyiv Urges Graham Sanctions as Trump Cuts Deal With Putin

President Volodymyr Zelensky urged visiting US lawmakers in Kyiv on Friday, Oct. 9, to ensure full implementation of the Lindsey Graham sanctions law, even as US President Donald Trump struck a separate energy deal with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin – offering Moscow a new opportunity to generate revenue from diesel exports while continuing its invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky met a bipartisan delegation comprising Republican Senators Roger Wicker and Kevin Cramer, Democratic Representative Marc Veasey and Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. According to the Ukrainian Presidential Office, discussions focused on strengthening Ukraine’s security, expanding air defenses and increasing economic pressure on Russia ahead of winter. Russian drones threaten Kyiv during US delegation’s visit Zelensky thanked the visiting lawmakers for standing with Ukrainians amid Russia’s nearly continuous missile and drone attacks. “I am grateful to the American congressional delegation for being with our people today amid the virtually nonstop Russian attacks,” Zelensky wrote on X. The president warned that Moscow was intensifying attacks on Ukrainian cities because its forces had failed to achieve their objectives on the battlefield. “Russia is not getting what it wants on the battlefield and is trying to compensate for this with escalation.” The visiting US lawmakers witnessed firsthand the dangers Ukrainians face daily. Other Topics of Interest Trump Says He and Putin Have Cut Diesel Deal, Zelensky Accuses Washington of ‘Weakness’ Zelensky said any easing of sanctions without a lasting de-escalation deal would prove as “obvious weakness” that allows Russia’s war to last longer. “Throughout our entire meeting in Kyiv, an air raid alert was in effect due to the threat of jet-powered Shaheds,” Zelensky wrote on X. He added that since the beginning of October, Russian drones had damaged two schools in the capital, while Russian strikes had also targeted bridges, energy facilities and other critical infrastructure. The president stressed that defending Ukrainian civilians against Russia’s aerial campaign required stronger international cooperation. “The only way to defend against this terror is together, and we discussed how the US can help save lives,” he said. Zelensky urges US to enforce Graham sanctions Zelensky urged Washington to cut off financial flows sustaining Russia’s invasion. “Of course, we are counting on the Lindsey Graham law being implemented,” he said. “This is a matter of political will, and it is now important to show leadership and fully restrict financial flows to the Russian war machine.” The appeal came three weeks after Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act into law on Sept. 18. The legislation was designed to tighten pressure on Russia’s energy and defense industries, along with financial networks sustaining its war against Ukraine. But on the very day Zelensky urged US lawmakers to enforce those restrictions, Washington moved in the opposite direction on Russian diesel exports. Trump eases Russian diesel sanctions after Putin call Trump announced in a Truth Social post that Russia had agreed to immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to the US and global markets. Another 500,000 tons would follow in November, with an additional 1 million tons afterward. Trump also said Russia could deliver another 3 million tons within a short period, depending on the condition of its refineries. “Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority,” Trump wrote. The president claimed the agreement, combined with what he described as US control of the Strait of Hormuz, would help bring down fuel prices. Shortly afterward, the US Treasury Department issued General License 135, authorizing certain transactions involving the sale, delivery, offloading and importation of Russian diesel. The authorization runs through April 7, 2027, temporarily easing restrictions that had limited Russian fuel exports following Moscow’s full-scale invasion. The decision drew criticism from Kyiv and American lawmakers concerned that renewed Russian energy sales would provide Moscow with additional resources to finance its war. Energy analysts also questioned whether the shipments would significantly reduce US fuel prices, suggesting that Russia could benefit economically without delivering the sweeping relief Trump promised. The agreement came as Russia continued attacking Ukrainian cities, power facilities and other infrastructure – the same targets Zelensky had described to the congressional delegation during their meeting in Kyiv. Ukraine seeks joint Patriot missile production with US Beyond sanctions, Zelensky urged Washington to accelerate licensing for the production of Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukraine urgently needs to defend against Russian ballistic attacks. Zelensky also outlined Ukraine’s plans to expand defense cooperation with Washington. “We also discussed other necessary steps, including accelerating the licensing of missile production for Patriots,” he said. “Ukraine is ready not just to produce ballistic interceptors for itself, but to strengthen America and its allies through joint production.” Ukraine has repeatedly appealed for additional Patriot systems and interceptor missiles as Moscow intensifies its attacks on cities, electricity networks and critical infrastructure. Licensed production could help Kyiv build a more sustainable supply of air defense ammunition while expanding manufacturing capacity for the US and its European partners. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.