Original Coverage & Source Attribution: democrats-foreignaffairs.house.gov
Washington, DC — Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the Trump administration announced it would waive sanctions on Russia as set forth in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.“As I predicted, President Trump will not implement the sanctions set forth in the Lindsey Graham bill. I warned on the floor that this bill would give Ukraine false hope that the administration would finally get tough on Russia. Trump has vindicated that concern repeatedly over the past month. This waiver is no surprise: he has had the power to sanction Russia for years. What he lacks is the will.“Congress is not helpless. My Ukraine Support Act passed the House with bipartisan support. This week I introduced the bipartisan Prohibit Corrupt Russian Oil Deals Act to end this administration’s disastrous partnership with the Russian energy industry. Congress must also advance legislation fixing the Graham bill which has failed within a month of its passage. All of these measures should become law making clear where America stands: with Ukraine and against Putin.
“Donald Trump has spent years chasing the Nobel Peace Prize. After weeks of pro-Putin policy and this shameful waiver, he deserves a different honor: the Neville Chamberlain Appeasement Award.”
