US Congress Gives Trump Three Days: 22 Lawmakers Demand "Hellish Sanctions" by Graham Implemented by October 18

On Thursday, October 15, twenty-two members of the US House of Representatives sent a joint letter to President Donald Trump demanding the full implementation of the late Senator Lindsey Graham's so-called "hellish sanctions" package against Russia and Iran. According to RBC-Ukraine, citing the website of House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, there are effectively only days left before decisions are made on key measures, and the document has already been signed by two dozen bipartisan lawmakers.

The Appeal: "Maximum Pressure" Ahead of the Fifth Winter Campaign

In the text of the letter, congressmen emphasize that Russia is preparing to launch a fifth winter campaign against Ukraine, and it is precisely in this regard, in their view, that Washington has an opportunity to intensify peace efforts by exerting maximum pressure on Vladimir Putin, as well as on "governments and networks" that, according to the authors, finance his war. The lawmakers thanked the president for signing the Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act of 2026 and strongly urged ensuring its "full and faithful implementation" by the first established deadline of October 18.

October 18 Deadline: Sanctions or Written Justification

A key element of the appeal is the date of October 18. Under the terms of the adopted law, by this deadline the US President is required either to impose the stipulated restrictions or to justify in writing to Congress why he is not yet doing so. In their statement, the congressmen demand that by this date the administration report which specific sanctions and tariffs will be introduced, whether delays or cancellations of individual measures are planned, and how the White House intends to evaluate their effectiveness. The authors point out that using the economic pressure tools enshrined in the law will be of "decisive importance" in forcing Moscow, in their wording, "to take peace negotiations seriously."

Additional Request: Revocation of Diesel Deal License

In addition to the main demand regarding the implementation of the sanctions package, lawmakers expressed concern over the diesel deal between the US and Russia and strongly urged the revocation of the license issued by the US Department of the Treasury for the relevant supplies. Thus, the appeal touches not only upon the general sanctions regime, but also specific authorization documents which, according to the authors, may weaken pressure on Moscow.

Context: Law Signed September 19, Zelensky Expresses Gratitude

Recall that on the night of September 19, US President Donald Trump officially signed the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill against Russia. Following this, the step was welcomed by Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to the US leader for adopting the document. The current appeal by 22 congressmen, as well as an earlier statement by a group of lawmakers counting on the first round of restrictions by 18 October, indicate that lobbying for the full and timely execution of the signed law—rather than its partial application or softening—persists within Congress.