Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) during their visit to Kyiv, the President’s Office said on May 30.
Blumenthal and Graham are co-sponsors of a Senate bill proposing severe secondary sanctions (such as a 500% tariff on exports to the United States) on countries buying Russian oil. Besides tightening sanctions on Moscow, the meeting focused on coordinating international efforts for a just peace and strengthen Ukrainian–U.S. ties.
Both sides also discussed direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, noting that the only concrete outcome so far has been a prisoner exchange. Zelenskyy said Ukraine remains open to constructive dialogue but added Russia did not even bother to send its proposed agenda for upcoming June 2 round of negotiations. He reiterated that Kremlin’s true intentions are embodied by preparations for another major offensive this summer.
“We understand that Russia is trying to turn diplomacy into a farce: it hides behind talks while planning fresh offensive operations on the front, striking our towns and villages daily and rejecting any cease-fire proposals,” the Ukrainian president said.
“That’s why additional pressure is necessary.”
The senators praised Ukraine for continued resistance to Russian aggression and dismissed Moscow’s claims of “successes on the front” as part of a disinformation campaign.
Zelenskyy praised Blumenthal and Graham for spearheading the sanctions bill, which has broad bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate. “I appreciate this initiative—a bipartisan sanctions bill now supported by 82 senators,” the president said. “We discussed this and other measures to force Russia toward peace, and we will continue working on this together.”
