Zelenskyy to meet Trump as Senate votes on Russian sanctions after Ukraine attacks Iranian vessel

The United States Senate is scheduled to vote on a new package of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, a move that comes just days after Ukrainian forces struck an Iranian-flagged vessel in the Caspian Sea. The proposed measures, which build on earlier restrictions, target Russian entities linked to the defense sector, energy exports, and financial institutions deemed to be facilitating Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine. Lawmakers introduced the legislation in response to ongoing concerns that Russia continues to evade existing sanctions and to signal U.S. resolve amid heightened regional tensions.

Senators indicated that the vote will assess the effectiveness of the current sanctions regime and consider additional steps to curb Russia’s access to Western technology and capital. The timing of the vote follows diplomatic protests from Tehran, which condemned the Ukrainian attack as a violation of international law, and renewed calls from Washington for accountability. If approved, the sanctions are expected to further isolate Russia economically while reinforcing the United States’ broader strategy of pressuring Moscow to cease hostilities in Ukraine.