--- title: "\"What are we waiting for?\" Zelensky urges US to immediately impose sanctions on Russia" description: "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the US to immediately impose economic and energy sanctions on Russia and to support Senator Lindsey Graham's sanctions bill in Congress." date: 2026-09-11T18:52:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelensky-urges-us-to-immediately-impose-sanctions-on-russia tags: [ukraine, sanctions, russia, us-congress, zelensky, lindsey-graham] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "What are we waiting for?" Zelensky urges US to immediately impose sanctions on Russia ![Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a desk during a meeting, urging the US to impose sanctions on Russia](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/11/zelensky-prizval-ssha-nerazomno-uvesti-sanktsii-protiv-rossii/zelensky-prizval-ssha-nerazomno-uvesti-sanktsii-protiv-rossii-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Zelensky called on the US to immediately impose economic and energy sanctions on Russia to deprive it of the ability to finance the war. - The Ukrainian leader expressed incomprehension over the delays and called for support of Senator Lindsey Graham's sanctions initiative in Congress. - In addition to legislative steps, Ukraine expects decisive decisions from the US executive branch, including personal decisions by President Trump. - Against the backdrop of the call for sanctions, Zelensky earlier warned Russia of a symmetric response to strikes on energy infrastructure and proposed a step-by-step negotiation path. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once again appealed to the United States, calling for the immediate imposition of sanctions against Russia. In his words, such measures are necessary to deprive the aggressor country of the ability to finance the war against Ukraine on a daily basis. The head of state made this statement in his Telegram channel, as noted by RBC-Ukraine. ### "What are we waiting for?" β€” reaction to delays Zelensky expressed his incomprehension over the fact that the adoption of critical restrictions against Russia is being delayed. "Decisions on sanctions, on economic and energy restrictions against the Russian Federation, on restrictions on the production of ballistic missiles and corresponding weapons must be made immediately. What are we waiting for?" β€” emphasized the Ukrainian leader, adding that in wartime it is better to make even an imperfect decision than to delay. ### Support for Lindsey Graham's initiative Separately, the head of state drew attention to the importance of supporting American legislation, in particular the initiative of Senator Lindsey Graham. According to Zelensky, voting for the sanctions bill in the US Congress is a historic moment for the United States, since such steps represent a defense of shared values. In Washington, according to sources, the House of Representatives has come close to adopting new "hellish sanctions" against Russia, initiated by Graham, and the consideration and voting on the bill are expected in the near future. ### Expectations from the executive branch In addition to legislative steps, Ukraine expects decisive action from the US executive branch. "In addition, strong decisions by the administration of the US president are important. Personal decisions by President Trump. I really want to hope for that," β€” stated Zelensky, pointing to the role of the American leader's personal decisions in increasing pressure on Moscow. ### Context: threat of a symmetric response Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky firmly warned Russia that any blackouts in Ukraine would be met with a worthy and symmetric response. In his words, Ukraine is ready for mirror actions in the event of new strikes on energy infrastructure during the cold season, but at the same time proposes a step-by-step negotiation path to end the war. Thus, the call for immediate sanctions fits into a broader strategy of pressure on the Russian Federation while simultaneously maintaining a channel for diplomatic settlement. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [What are we waiting for? Zelensky emotionally urges US to hit Russia with new sanctions](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/shcho-mi-chekaemo-zelenskiy-emotsiyno-zaklikav-1789151641.html) - ΠŸΠ΅Ρ€Π²ΠΈΡ‡Π½Ρ‹ΠΉ источник: заявлСниС ЗСлСнского Π² Telegram, Ρ†ΠΈΡ‚Π°Ρ‚Π° Β«Π§Ρ‚ΠΎ ΠΌΡ‹ ΠΆΠ΄Π΅ΠΌ?Β», ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠ·Ρ‹Π² ΠΊ экономичСским/энСргСтичСским санкциям ΠΈ ограничСниям Π½Π° баллистичСскоС ΠΎΡ€ΡƒΠΆΠΈΠ΅. - [Sanctions against Russia must be stronger: Zelensky appeals to the US](https://fakty.com.ua/ru/ukraine/20260911-sanktsiyi-proty-rf-povynni-buty-sylnishi-zelenskyj-zvernuvsya-do-ssha/) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ ΠΎΠ±Ρ€Π°Ρ‰Π΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ ЗСлСнского ΠΊ БША с Ρ‚Ρ€Π΅Π±ΠΎΠ²Π°Π½ΠΈΠ΅ΠΌ ΡƒΡΠΈΠ»ΠΈΡ‚ΡŒ санкции ΠΏΡ€ΠΎΡ‚ΠΈΠ² Π Π€. - [Zelensky: US sanctions against Russia must be imposed right now](https://ru.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1202968.html) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ тСзис ΠΎ нСобходимости Π½Π΅ΠΌΠ΅Π΄Π»Π΅Π½Π½ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ ввСдСния санкций БША ΠΏΡ€ΠΎΡ‚ΠΈΠ² России. - [Zelensky explains what he expects from the US](https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/4911078-zelenskyi-obiasnyl-cheho-ozhydaet-ot-ssha) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ оТидания Π£ΠΊΡ€Π°ΠΈΠ½Ρ‹ ΠΎΡ‚ Π·Π°ΠΊΠΎΠ½ΠΎΠ΄Π°Ρ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΠ½Ρ‹Ρ… ΠΈ ΠΈΡΠΏΠΎΠ»Π½ΠΈΡ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΠ½Ρ‹Ρ… шагов БША, Π²ΠΊΠ»ΡŽΡ‡Π°Ρ ΠΈΠ½ΠΈΡ†ΠΈΠ°Ρ‚ΠΈΠ²Ρƒ Линдси Грэма. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What exactly did Zelensky call on the US to do? **A:** To immediately impose economic and energy sanctions on Russia, as well as restrictions on the production of ballistic missiles and corresponding weapons. ### Q: Whose initiative in Congress did Zelensky support? **A:** The initiative of Senator Lindsey Graham to adopt a sanctions law, which, according to the President of Ukraine, is a historic moment for the US. ### Q: What other steps does Ukraine expect from the US? **A:** Decisive decisions by the US executive branch, including personal decisions by President Trump, alongside legislative measures.