Ukraine’s top sanctions official is scheduled to visit Washington this week to advocate for a comprehensive sanctions bill targeting Russia, a measure that has already passed the Senate but faces resistance in the House of Representatives.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s sanctions commissioner, arrived in the U.S. capital on September 1 for meetings with members of Congress. His visit aims to bolster support for the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” a legislative package designed to increase economic pressure on Russia by targeting officials and allowing the imposition of tariffs on countries heavily dependent on Russian energy.

The bill, which passed the Senate on August 7 with an 86-11 vote, was strongly backed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham and has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. It authorizes the imposition of tariffs up to 100% on major importers of Russian oil and gas, including India, Japan, and several European Union members, with the intent to curtail Russia’s revenue streams used to finance its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

While the measure sends a clear signal of continued U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s full-scale invasion, its future in the House is uncertain. Some influential Democrats and industry groups express concern over granting expanded tariff powers to the Trump administration, warning that such authority could be misused and lead to increased costs for American importers and consumers. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries acknowledged these concerns, stating that Democrats are set to engage in serious discussions about the bill’s implications in the coming days. He also noted that current sanctions authority is already substantial without additional expansions.

House leadership has not yet scheduled a vote on the legislation. Some opponents argue that the U.S. president already possesses sufficient tools to impose sanctions on Russia, viewing the additional tariff powers as unnecessary and politically risky, especially with midterm elections approaching. Critics fear that the bill's provision could provoke backlash from both domestic industries and international partners.

Vlasiuk’s lobbying efforts come amid escalating violence in and around Kyiv, where recent drone attacks have resulted in dozens of fatalities and widespread property damage. The diplomatic push underscores Ukraine’s urgency in securing robust international measures to curtail Russia’s war capabilities.

Should the bill pass the House and be signed into law by the president, it would grant the administration considerable discretion to enforce tariffs on nations that continue to consume Russian energy, thereby amplifying the economic pressure on Moscow.