Twenty-two US lawmakers demand Trump immediately impose Russia sanctions under Graham Act

Twenty-two Democrat and Republican members of the US House of Representatives have written to President Donald Trump demanding the full and immediate implementation of the sanctions against Russia provided for under the Graham Act.

Source: Congressman Jim Costa's website; Ukrainian journalist in Washington Ostap Yarysh on Facebook

Details: The letter was authored by House Foreign Affairs Committee member Jim Costa, together with the co-chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus in the House of Representatives: Mike Quigley, Marcy Kaptur, Brian Fitzpatrick and Joe Wilson. The lawmakers stressed that the first mandatory deadline for the key sanctions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 to take effect expires on 18 October.

They emphasised the need to step up economic pressure on Moscow ahead of winter.

Quote: "As Russia prepares to wage a fifth winter campaign against Ukraine, the United States has an opportunity to reinvigorate peace efforts by placing maximum pressure on Vladimir Putin and the governments and networks that finance his war. Utilising the tools for economic pressure in this law will be decisive in forcing Putin to take peace talks seriously."

Details: In the letter, the lawmakers also expressed deep concern over the US Department of the Treasury's decision on 9 October to issue General Licence No. 135, which permits transactions involving the sale, delivery, offloading and import of Russian diesel fuel into the US.

They called on the administration to immediately revoke this permit and prevent any new exemptions that restore the flow of petrodollars into the Kremlin's war chest.

Furthermore, the House members have asked the administration five questions and demanded written answers by 18 October. They want to know what steps will be taken to ensure the full implementation of all mandatory sanctions, tariffs and bans, and whether the White House intends to delay any provisions or grant exemptions to them.

The lawmakers are also calling for the administration to publish a list of Russian officials, oligarchs, banks and state-owned companies targeted by the restrictions and to clarify whether foreign banks and Russia's shadow fleet operators will also be affected. They are further demanding details of which countries will face secondary tariffs for purchasing Russian energy, what safeguards will be in place for allies, how pressure on Putin will be measured, and why sanctions are being eased despite the existing legislative ban on Russian energy imports.

Among the 22 signatories to the letter are leading representatives of both parties, including Republicans Michael McCaul, Joe Wilson, Brian Fitzpatrick and Don Bacon, as well as Democrats Steny Hoyer, Jim Costa, Marcy Kaptur, Josh Gottheimer and Dina Titus.

Background:

• On 17 September, the US Congress passed bill H.R. 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The legislation authorises 500% tariffs on Russian goods, secondary tariffs of up to 100% on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, and mandatory sanctions against key sectors of the Russian economy.
• On 19 September, US President Donald Trump signed the Graham Act into law, setting the first 30-day deadline for the implementation of its provisions for 18 October.
• On 9 October, the US Department of the Treasury, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), issued General Licence No. 135, allowing transactions involving Russian-origin diesel fuel.
• On 14 October, a bipartisan group of 12 US senators sent a strongly worded letter to Donald Trump, calling the diesel deal with Moscow a "betrayal of the people of Ukraine" and urging him to immediately revoke the licence and move to full implementation of the Graham Act.

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