\n<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON — <\/span>The Senate took the first steps toward passage of a sweeping Russian sanctions bill on Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/a> in the Capitol, moving forward on the legislation to penalize countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports after more than a year of negotiations. <\/p>\n The bipartisan 86-12 procedural vote came hours after a funeral for Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina<\/a>, the bill\u2019s chief negotiator. Zelenskyy, who was in Washington to attend the service for Graham, met with senators beforehand and told them that Ukraine is making gains in its war with Russia, but still needs more help from the U.S. <\/p>\n Zelenskyy then went to the Senate gallery to watch the vote, waving in support at the senators down below. <\/p>\n At the meeting, Zelenskyy told senators that the sanctions legislation “is important as a moral signal to a country that is weary and tired, though holding its own and then some against Russia,” said Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana as he left the meeting. <\/p>\n Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., announced a deal with the White House on the sanctions legislation on July 10, a day before his sudden death, likely from an aortic tear<\/a>. Graham had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he met with Zelenskyy. <\/p>\n Blumenthal said Graham told him that the deal they had struck was a \u201cbig effing deal\u201d in the last conversation they had just before he died. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a significant part of his legacy,\u201d Blumenthal said. <\/p>\n He said the bill has momentum partly because Ukraine is turning the tide in the war, because the bill was carefully negotiated and \u201cthere’s feeling about Senator Graham.\u201d <\/p>\n Zelenskyy’s presence also helps, Blumenthal said, and \u201cwatching his face when he was in the gallery as we were voting was truly a moment of joy.\u201d <\/p>\n In Zelenskyy’s latest visit to the Capitol, his message was \u201cpositive,” Young said, and he talked about how the Ukrainians are making good progress against Russia in different areas of the war. <\/p>\n The bill is a \u201ckeystone in that overall effort\u201d to handicap the Russian economy and drive Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, Young said. <\/p>\n Zelenskyy told them that \u201cthey are winning the war now,” said Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.V. <\/p>\n \u201cIn the first year it was survival. The next three years was getting your feet under you. But now they are winning,\u201d Justice said.\u201d <\/p>\n Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said Zelenskyy told the senators that \u201cPutin would think a little bit more about trying to negotiate a settlement if the sanctions were in place and actually creating more irritation.\u201d <\/p>\n The bill will \u201csend Putin a bipartisan message in a language he understands,\u201d said New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat. \u201cThis is our best opportunity to support Ukraine. We are defending not just their country but the rest of Europe from an increasingly aggressive Russia.\u201d <\/p>\n Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump earlier in the day<\/a>, and the two discussed ways that the U.S. could help in its war with Russia. <\/p>\n