US lawmakers urge Trump to enforce Russia sanctions ahead of deadline

A bipartisan group of 22 US lawmakers urged President Donald Trump to fully enforce sanctions against Russia, saying Moscow's oil revenues were helping finance its war against Ukraine, according to a letter reported by Kyiv Post.

The lawmakers asked the administration to apply measures targeting Russian officials, financial institutions and companies accused of helping Moscow evade international restrictions. Their appeal was directed at Washington's existing legal enforcement powers.

The letter called for full implementation of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 ahead of an 18 October deadline, according to the report. The deadline refers to enforcement requested by the lawmakers, not a new sanctions package already implemented.

The group also asked Trump to reconsider a licence permitting Russian diesel-related transactions. Some legislators said easing those restrictions could provide Moscow with additional revenue while Russian military strikes continued against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.

Democrats and Republicans signed the appeal, which was led by members of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Kyiv Post reported. It reflects a request from Congress to the executive branch rather than a formal decision by the Treasury Department.

The lawmakers argued economic pressure was necessary to persuade Russia to negotiate over the war. Their assessment of how sanctions might affect Moscow's negotiating position was a political argument, not an established consequence.

The White House had not announced a change in enforcement policy in the reporting supplied to the newsroom. Whether new restrictions would be applied to banks or oil buyers remained unresolved.

The appeal directly concerns US sanctions policy affecting Russia and the war in Ukraine. No immediate effect on a specific European company or shipment was documented in the source report.

In the letter, the lawmakers linked the request to continued strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and said sanctions should also reach foreign networks used to move Russian energy supplies. They urged the administration to use the powers they said Congress had granted.

The lawmakers' opposition followed debate in Washington over whether temporary sanctions relief on Russian diesel was compatible with efforts to increase pressure on Moscow. The account did not establish any vote on additional legislation or a formal response from President Trump.

Any changes to licences or sanctions would require action by the responsible US authorities. The letter itself did not suspend existing permissions or impose new restrictions on shipments.