All 100 U.S. senators have been invited to a meeting with Zelenskyy: What to expect from the visit
28 July 05:52
During his visit to Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with members of the U.S. Senate. According to The Hill, all 100 senators have been invited to the meeting, and one of the main topics will be a bill to strengthen sanctions against Russia, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
The Ukrainian leader is also expected to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and participate in events related to the farewell ceremony for Senator Lindsey Graham.
All senators received invitations
According to The Hill, all 100 members of the U.S. Senate have been invited to a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Capitol.
According to Reuters, the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, Washington time. In Kyiv time, that will be around 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
The main topic: sanctions against Russia
It is expected that during the meeting, Zelenskyy will thank U.S. lawmakers for their support of a new sanctions bill, which aims to increase economic pressure on Russia.
The bill aims to reduce Russia’s revenue from energy exports. The updated version of the bill proposes imposing 100% tariffs on buyers of Russian oil and gas.
A much stricter version with a 500% tariff had been discussed earlier, but it was revised to garner broader support among senators.
The Senate may begin voting during Zelenskyy’s visit
According to aides to senators interviewed by Reuters, the Senate may begin deliberations and voting on the sanctions bill while the Ukrainian president is in Washington.
Senator Lindsey Graham, who has long been one of the most consistent advocates for Ukraine in the U.S. Congress, has been pushing this bill for some time.
Zelenskyy will also meet with Donald Trump
During his visit to the U.S., Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to hold a separate bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump.
According to U.S. media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also be in Washington and is scheduled to hold talks with the U.S. president.
The visit is connected with the farewell to Lindsey Graham
One of the reasons for Zelenskyy’s trip to Washington is to participate in the memorial services for Senator Lindsey Graham.
According to official reports, memorial services and the senator’s funeral will be held in Washington on July 28, with U.S. President Donald Trump and other high-ranking officials in attendance.
Why This Meeting Is of Particular Significance
An invitation to the entire Senate is a rare format for a meeting with a foreign leader.
The visit comes at a time when Congress is considering a new package of sanctions against Russia. That is why talks with senators could be a crucial step in advancing the bill, which aims to further increase economic pressure on Moscow.
