US House members urge Trump not to weaken Russia sanctions, apply 'Graham law'
Four bipartisan members of the US House of Representatives have sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him not to ease sanctions against Russia and instead to enforce the recently signed 'Graham law.' The appeal came in response to media reports that the Trump administration was considering seeking the release of Russian political prisoners in exchange for loosening sanctions and restoring economic ties with Moscow.
Key points
- The letter was signed by Marcy Kaptur, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Quigley, and Joe Wilson of the Congressional Ukraine Support Group.
- Lawmakers warned that loosening sanctions would embolden Russia and prolong the war.
- The appeal responds to reports that Trump's team considered a swap: Russia releases political prisoners in exchange for US easing sanctions.
- The Atlantic reported on September 29 that special envoy John Coale had proposed the idea; the magazine also reported that Trump allegedly agreed.
- Under the 'Graham law,' the US president is required to announce new sanctions on Russia by October 18.
- Trump signed the underlying bill HR 5334, the 'Lindsey O. Graham Act on Imposing Sanctions against Russia and Iran of 2026,' overnight September 18–19.
- At the UN General Assembly on September 22, Trump said he would apply the law's sanctions 'if necessary.'
Why it matters
The appeal demonstrates bipartisan congressional pressure on Trump to maintain — not ease — sanctions on Russia, widening the split between Capitol Hill and the administration on Russia policy just as the October 18 statutory deadline for announcing new sanctions approaches.
What happened
A bipartisan group of four US House members — Marcy Kaptur, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Quigley, and Joe Wilson, all of the Congressional Ukraine Support Group — sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him not to weaken sanctions against Russia and instead to apply the 'Graham law.' The appeal was a direct response to media reports that the Trump administration was weighing a deal in which Russia would release political prisoners in exchange for the United States easing sanctions and restoring economic ties with Moscow. The Atlantic reported on September 29 that special envoy for Eastern Europe John Coale had earlier proposed such a swap, and that Trump allegedly agreed. In their letter, the lawmakers argued that loosening sanctions would embolden Russia and prolong the war, and urged Trump to act promptly to increase economic pressure on Moscow. Under the legislation Trump signed overnight September 18–19, the president is required to announce new sanctions on Russia by October 18.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian sources frame the story around a concrete US institutional action — the bipartisan House letter — and stress the lawmakers' warning that loosening sanctions would embolden Russia and prolong the war. They highlight the October 18 statutory deadline for announcing sanctions and the contrast with reports of the Trump administration's openness to a prisoner-for-sanctions-easing deal, presenting the congressional appeal as a direct pushback against the administration's direction.
Where reporting differs
Most source articles name the four signatories of the letter as Marcy Kaptur, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Quigley, and Joe Wilson, all identified as members of the Congressional Ukraine Support Group. One earlier framing only refers to four legislators of the Ukraine Support Group without naming them individually.
Background
The 'Graham law' originated as a Senate bill introduced in April 2025 by Senators Lindsey Graham (Republican) and Richard Blumenthal (Democrat), providing for a 500% tariff on imports from countries still purchasing Russian oil and other raw materials. In June 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported the Trump administration was trying to get Graham to soften the bill, and Politico said it could be significantly watered down before passage. On July 10, 2026, during a visit to Kyiv, Graham announced that an agreement had been reached with the White House on a new version of the sanctions bill; he died suddenly the next day. The House of Representatives supported the bill on September 16, and Trump signed it overnight September 18–19. The signed law gives the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries continuing to buy Russian energy, and expands restrictions on Russian military leadership, financial and energy sectors, foreign suppliers, 'shadow fleet' vessels, and exports of goods usable for weapons production. On September 22, Trump said at the UN General Assembly that he would apply the law's sanctions 'if necessary.' Earlier, a group of US Democratic senators had issued a joint statement calling on Trump to apply the 'Graham law' and the punitive tariffs on buyers of Russian energy.