WASHINGTON -- The passing of US Senator Lindsey Graham has meant the loss of one of Ukraine's strongest advocates in the circle of people who get facetime with US President Donald Trump -- but also given an impetus to a sweeping bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that Graham had championed.
The US Senate moved closer on July 13 to fast-tracking the bill, with leaders from both parties urging swift passage of a proposal that has languished on the legislative back-burner for long periods since Graham introduced it back in April last year.
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Lindsey Graham, US Senator And Prominent Ukraine Advocate, Dies At 71
The final version of the legislation, seen by RFE/RL, had been expected to be introduced by Graham that day after months of negotiations with the White House and Democratic co-sponsor Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.
But Graham's sudden death over the weekend transformed the day into one of remembrance, with senators instead paying tribute to his legacy while repeatedly calling for the measure to move forward without delay.
By the evening, Senate aides said work had shifted to finalizing the revised text and aligning it with a recently passed House bill, a move that could allow the legislation to go directly to Trump's desk once it clears the Senate.
The White House also publicly endorsed the measure on July 13, following weeks of negotiations between Graham and the administration.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said the White House had worked closely with Graham on the legislation in his final days and expressed hope that Republicans and Democrats could quickly pass it.
"This was the thing that he cared the most about in terms of an accomplishment, and it would certainly be an incredible legacy for him," Thune told reporters.
Revised Bill Broadens Sanctions
According to the revised draft obtained by RFE/RL, the legislation significantly expands the original Sanctioning Russia Act.
Rather than requiring a presidential determination that Moscow had rejected peace efforts or violated a peace agreement, many sanctions would automatically take effect within 30 days of enactment.
The revised legislation would substantially broaden sanctions beyond Russian officials and financial institutions to include investment, sovereign debt, shipping, energy exports, uranium imports, financial messaging services, and other sectors of Russia's economy.
The legislation would also authorize the president to impose steep tariffs on imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian oil, natural gas, and uranium.
Graham and Blumenthal announced last week that they had reached agreement with the administration after extensive negotiations over the bill's final language.
Lawmakers Press For Immediate Vote
Throughout a day of tributes, senators from both parties argued that passing the sanctions package would be the most fitting way to honor Graham's final legislative priority.
Flowers lie on the sidewalk outside Graham's home in Washington, D.C., on July 13.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York urged Thune to bring the measure to the floor immediately, while recalling that despite their often sharp political differences, he and Graham had worked together on issues ranging from China's currency practices to immigration reform and, more recently, support for Ukraine.
“To the very end, Senator Graham's life was defined by public service," Schumer said. "For all of our many and vehement disagreements, Senator Graham and I still found ways to work together.”
Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, one of Graham's closest Democratic partners on foreign policy, said Graham was elated after discussions with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the sanctions legislation.
“He was on cloud nine," Coons said. "He was so excited when we spoke about going into Kyiv, about giving the good news to Zelenskyy, about coming back here this week and passing this bill.”
Coons said Graham believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would only stop if confronted with greater economic pressure.
"I think the least we could do to honor Lindsey Graham's memory is to take up and pass in this Senate the legislation for which he worked and fought so long," he said.
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi pledged to continue backing the legislation, saying it should be enacted "to exert maximum economic pressure on Putin's war machine and help bring this unjust war to an end."
Blumenthal said he planned to meet with Thune to discuss the bill's final preparations and identify a new Republican lead sponsor following Graham's death.
“It should be seen as a fitting tribute to Senator Graham to do it quickly in his memory," Blumenthal said. "It's exactly what we were talking about when I last spoke to him over the weekend.”