Trump meets Zelenskyy as lawmakers prepare for sanctions on Russia

Members are watching the president Donald Trump’s Closely meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and prepare for tough sanctions on Moscow.

Trump, Zelenskyy and many European leaders will meet at the White House on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.

The meeting will be based on which side of the aisle legislators, with Republicans praising Trump for seeking a diplomatic ending for the war, while Democrats accused the president of legitimizing Putin and giving him a grand stage.

Democrats doubt whether Trump will join Putin in the Alaska summit to stop Ukraine’s ceasefire

Senate Majority Whip John BarrassoMembers of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told Fox News in a statement that “the power and leadership of the United States” was fully demonstrated under Trump.

“European countries have joined us, joining the strength of Vladimir Putin,” said the Wyoming Republican. “The killing needs to be stopped. The long-term, verifiable peace between Ukraine and Russia will be beneficial to Ukraine, Russia, Europe and the United States.”

But some lawmakers believe that if no agreement is reached, serious sanctions are the next best step.

‘Game Changeler’: Senators from both parties shoot for Russian sanctions, ready to give Trump a runway

Senate Majority Senator John Thune said at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on July 22, 2025 that Senate Majority Senator John Barrasso listened. (Getty Images/Alex Wong)

Senate Majority Leader John ThuneRs.D. praised Trump for his “stubborn determination” to find a peaceful ending of the war and interacted with all parties in a way that his ex refused to do so.” However, he showed that the Senate was standing in Moscow and hit Moscow when needed.

“As the peace talks held in Washington today continue, the U.S. Senate is ready to provide President Trump with any economic leverage to enable Russia to negotiate fair and lasting peace in Ukraine at the dining table,” Thune said on X.

Last month, Trump announced Putin would have a 50-day deadline to reach a ceasefire deal, which the president recently cut to “10 or 12” days. Although there appears to be no such direct agreement between the two leaders, the Trump administration said Russian leaders agree to Ukraine’s security agreement.

Zelenskyy will attend the crucial Trump conference as the United States weighs Kyiv’s security assurances

Senator Jeanne Shaheen spoke at a hearing on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and reviewed the U.S. Russian policy at the U.S. Capitol on December 7, 2021. (Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images)

Still, Senate Democrats were not happy with the end of the meeting, asking Congress to move forward with a sanctions plan ahead of Trump’s second high-stakes summit with Zelenskyy.

The highest-ranked Democratic Senator Jean Shaheen, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Congress must pass if Trump does not take action Crush sanctions As we return in the next few weeks. ”

“I will also continue to urge my bipartisan legislation to strengthen Ukraine’s defense and negotiating status with additional security aid, and my bipartisan bill will pursue Russian facilitators in China,” said the New Hampshire Democrat. “There is no appetite for Congress to build relations with Russia, and Putin continues to kidnap Ukrainian children and murder innocent civilians.”

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As for the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, lawmakers want to see a path to peace.

“The interests of the American people should come first, which means finding a way to peace,” Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Peace is also in the best interest of the Ukrainian people, who are unjustly used as pawns in proxy wars, even if they bravely resist Russian aggression.

and the Senator Tim KaineD-VA. In a statement to Fox News Digital, he said he was “happy that President Trump is interacting directly with White House President Zelenskyy and European leaders today to discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine.”

“Any decision on the next step must involve these key leaders, and this cannot be decided by Putin’s bloodthirsty regime,” he said.