Ukraine warns Russia could fake peace efforts to derail Graham sanctions
Andrii Sybiha (photo: facebook.com/andrij.sybiha/)
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia may try to derail a vote on the "bone-crushing sanctions" package championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
The minister said a clear pattern has emerged in recent years that whenever major new sanctions are approaching, particularly from the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin uses every available means to buy time.
"His weapon of choice? Fake diplomacy, staged phone calls, and bad-faith meetings," Sybiha wrote on X.
He confirmed that the late Senator Graham's sanctions bill is set to be considered next week and stressed the need to stay alert.
Minister Sybiha also warned that Russia could try to block the sanctions package by falsely portraying itself as seeking peace.
"Russia may try to derail it by pretending to care about peace. Tightening the sanctions pressure on Moscow isn't just timely—it is vital to countering Russian terror and forcing a real end to this war," Ukraine's top diplomat said.
Sanctions package by Lindsey Graham
As previously reported, the original "bone-crushing sanctions" package proposed that the United States impose 500% secondary tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy exports.
However, both before and after Graham's death, the bill was revised. The proposed tariff was reduced from 500% to 100%, and US President Donald Trump would be granted the authority to both impose and lift the sanctions if the legislation is passed.
The bill reportedly had 60 co-sponsors after Graham's death, and a vote is expected to take place next week. It could be held as early as July 28, the day of Graham's funeral.
However, The New York Times reported that consideration of the package could be delayed because Democrats oppose a provision that would give Trump such broad discretion over the sanctions.
