US Senator Lindsay Graham said the Senate is expected to discuss the bill on imposing new sanctions on Russia and countries buying Russian oil and other goods next week.

In his statements, he accused Vladimir Putin of trying to undermine the peace process and expects that the forthcoming meeting in Constantinople would be “a farce”.

Graham, who visited Kiev with Democratic Senator Richard Blomen and had a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski, also said he had previously contacted US President Donald Trump. As he said, Trump now expects Russia “specific actions and commitments”.

“Quite in the words, it’s time for actions,” said Graham, a rapporteur on the sanctions bill and one of Donald Trump’s most ardent supporters in the Senate, speaking to reporters in Kiev. “I expect that next week the Senate will start moving on the sanctions bill.”

The Ukrainians have done all that the US president has asked them, said Graham, who at the same time expressed his disappointment to Russia because it holds them all in the dark about its agenda for the next round of peace talks, which may be held.

“There are members of the House ready to move, and you will see action from Congress,” Graham said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to delay the negotiations in the hope that Kiev’s Western allies will get tired and withdraw their support, Graham commented, describing this tactic as “wrong”.

Trump, who this week expressed his frustration over Putin’s delay in agreeing to end the war, threatened with new sanctions after the greatest attack on the beginning of the war launched by Moscow against Ukraine.

However, on Wednesday, he implied that he would delay the imposition of new sanctions so as not to disturb the possibility of an agreement with Putin. When asked by a journalist if the Russian leader is interested in a peace deal, Trump replied: “I can’t tell you, but I’ll let you know in about two weeks.”

According to a draft bill seen by Bloomberg, sanctions include a 500% duty on imports from countries buying Russian oil, oil products, gas or celestial. Other sanctions will ban American citizens from buying Russian state debt.

Graham said he was planning to travel to France and Germany to seek support for a reduction in the cost of honor for Russian oil markets, with the aim of further making it difficult for Putin to finance his economy. He added that China could also face a 500%duty if it continues to support the Kremlin.

“This will hurt the Russian war machine,” Graham said. “If Europe follows this path and imposes sanctions on China as well, then the Senate will act.”