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The US Senate will vote on Tuesday on sanctions against Russia, days after Ukraine attacked an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet with United States President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, a meeting that could involve imposing new tough sanctions on Russia.
Zelenskyy, who will attend the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham, is also scheduled to meet with the Senate on Tuesday evening, Reuters reported, citing two Senate aides.
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A vote on the Russia case, legislation that has been pending for months and was championed by Graham, could happen the same day.
If enacted, the Russian sanctions law could force Moscow to impose 100 percent tariffs on Russian oil and gas exporters, including China and India.
In a last-minute intervention, Trump sought to add sanctions on Iran in the same bill. Zelenskyy told Trump ally Laura Loomer last week that he thought the move was a “good idea”.
The Iran and Ukraine wars collide
The two battles, taking place about 2,500km (1,550 miles) apart, have taken place in recent days.
On Saturday, Ukraine attacked an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea that Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, said was carrying drones and military equipment from Iran to Russia. Iran has vowed to retaliate.
By attacking Iranian ships, Kyiv is not only doing itself a favor but also attacking Washington’s “number one enemy”, which would please the US, former US ambassador to Kazakhstan and Georgia, William Courtney, told Al Jazeera.
But even if Zelenskyy supports Iran sanctions as part of Russia’s investment, Ukraine would not want to cooperate too much with the “unpopular” US war on Iran, he added.
The US no longer provides direct aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, but it does provide valuable information on long-term strikes and sells weapons to Europe that are supplied to Ukraine.
The Trump-Zelenskyy relationship
Although their relationship seemed strained during the intense exchange at the White House in February 2025, the relationship between Zelenskyy and Trump has improved significantly in recent months.
The two leaders agreed earlier this month to allow Ukraine to jointly develop Patriot air defense systems, which are a key part of the country’s defense against Russian airstrikes.
Ukraine and the US are also moving closer to a deal to develop drones, a move that could help the US counter Ukraine in key military technology.
Ukraine plans to produce 6 to 7 million short-range drones this year, while the Pentagon’s $1.1bn program will have ordered at least 200,000 drones by February 2027.
The fight continues
Fierce fighting continues in the war in Ukraine, with protracted clashes taking place on an almost daily basis.
On Monday, Russian militants in eastern Ukraine killed seven people and wounded more than 20, officials said.
In Russia’s Belgorod region, a Ukrainian plane crashed into a commercial building, killing one person and injuring two.
Fighting is particularly serious in Ukraine in Konstantinyvka and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
