Delaware Senator Among Group Demanding Tougher Russia Sanctions from Ukraine

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Delaware's Chris Coons, traveled to Ukraine this week calling for stronger economic pressure on Russia through energy sanctions. The lawmakers expressed frustration with recent peace talks and vowed to push back against any deal forcing Ukraine into excessive concessions.

Delaware Senator Chris Coons joined fellow lawmakers on a fact-finding mission to Ukraine this week, where they pledged to return to Washington with renewed calls for tougher economic measures against Russia.

Speaking to reporters during a phone call from Ukraine on Wednesday, the Democratic senators emphasized their commitment to advancing harsh energy sanctions and other legislative measures designed to force Russia to halt its military actions against Ukraine.

New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, accompanied by three other Democratic colleagues, stated their intention to intensify efforts upon returning to the Capitol. “I would hope that we would see a stronger effort and some real work when we get back to put pressure on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Shaheen declared.

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal highlighted the need to target nations purchasing Russian energy resources. “We are united that countries buying Russian oil and gas – and they are China, India, Hungary, Brazil – should be given very strong incentives to stop doing so, and it’s a way to really positively impact Ukraine’s fight,” Blumenthal explained.

The senators conducted their discussions amid challenging weather conditions in Odesa, where they engaged with Ukrainian coast guard personnel, naval representatives, American business officials, and local community leaders before departing for Moldova Wednesday evening.

Their visit coincided with the conclusion of two days of diplomatic negotiations in Geneva between Ukrainian and Russian representatives, which wrapped up Wednesday without achieving any significant breakthroughs. The talks occurred as Russia’s comprehensive military campaign against Ukraine approached its four-year mark.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed disappointment with the negotiation results, President Donald Trump’s administration characterized the discussions as showing “meaningful progress.”

Ukraine continues to face mounting pressure from the Trump administration to accept a potential agreement that might require significant territorial or political compromises, even as Russian military forces continue targeting the nation’s electrical infrastructure and making gradual territorial gains.

Congressional members from both major political parties, including Republicans aligned with Trump as well as Democrats, have argued against placing excessive pressure on Kyiv to accept unfavorable terms. In recent months, they successfully enacted legislation providing hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Zelenskiy’s administration, which Trump ultimately signed into law.

A key piece of pending legislation in Congress would establish sanctions against nations that purchase Russian petroleum products, natural gas, and uranium. This bipartisan measure, co-sponsored by Blumenthal and South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, has garnered support from 85 out of 100 senators but has yet to receive a floor vote.

Republican Senate leadership has refrained from scheduling the bill for consideration due to opposition from Trump, who has maintained control over sanctions policy within the executive branch rather than allowing Congress to direct such measures since beginning his second presidential term in January 2025.

The Democratic senators currently visiting Ukraine expressed hope for swift passage of the sanctions legislation and voiced optimism regarding separate proposed legislation targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet” – a network of aging oil tankers used to transport Russian crude to China, India, and other purchasing nations.

Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia. “Nobody, literally nobody, believes that Russia is acting in good faith in the negotiations with our government and with the Ukrainians. And so pressure becomes the key, and the shadow fleet is one element of that pressure,” Whitehouse stated.

Graham participated in discussions with more than a dozen Republican and Democratic senators who met with Zelenskiy during last weekend’s Munich Security Conference. Following those meetings, Graham indicated that Trump had endorsed his sanctions proposal and called for a congressional vote.

During Wednesday’s call, the visiting senators indicated their readiness to oppose any negotiated settlement that would force Ukraine into excessive concessions, stating they would refuse to ratify such an agreement.

Delaware’s Senator Coons emphasized the importance of security assurances in any potential deal. “We will be looking for very strong security guarantees,” Coons said.