‘We Won’t Let Putin Wait Us Out’: Senator Shaheen Outlines Sweeping New US Sanctions Package

US Senator Jeanne Shaheen warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he can outlast Western support for Ukraine, as a sweeping bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia’s energy revenues heads to President Donald Trump. “Vladimir Putin has been stringing everyone along... because he thinks he can wait us out,” Shaheen said in a Sept. 17 interview with RFE/RL. She argued that Congress had sent the opposite message with strong bipartisan support for the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The legislation passed the Senate 86-11 in August and the House 262-159 on Sept. 16. It now awaits Trump’s signature. Cutting Russia’s energy revenues The legislation targets Russian officials, financial institutions and Moscow’s shadow fleet while authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas, subject to exemptions. Shaheen said the legislation could already be influencing major buyers of Russian energy, noting that Washington had heard India would stop purchasing Russian oil and gas if the bill passed. “What it would do is crack down not just on Russia’s financial industry... It would also crack down on the revenue that’s funding this war – the oil and gas revenue,” she said. “China needs to get the message,” she said, arguing that Beijing should not benefit from discounted Russian energy moved through sanctions-evasion networks. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky: Over 50 Carpathian Deals Worth €1B Prepared for Signing President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Carpathians could supply energy to the EU and support Europe’s push for independence from Russian energy. Ukraine needs interceptors and Starlink he US senator stressed that Ukraine urgently needs more air-defense interceptors as it continues to defend against Russian missile attacks, while acknowledging shortages across the US and European defense industries. “We need to do everything we can to provide those interceptors that are helping them defend against the Russian missiles,” she said. She also emphasized the importance of maintaining Ukraine’s Starlink access. “We need to make sure they’ve got Starlink connections so they can track what’s going on with Russian missiles,” she said, adding that Ukraine also needs help preparing for another difficult winter. The senator also praised Ukraine’s advances in drone warfare, saying Ukrainian forces have stayed ahead of Russian drone technology and can provide valuable lessons for the US on drones and counter-drone systems. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.