Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to the United States on July 28 accomplished a feat that seemed impossible a year ago. He managed to convince Washington that Kyiv could win the war, writes Politico.
Unlike Zelensky's exhausting visit to the Oval Office in February 2025, this time he left the meeting with President Donald Trump in a high spirits.
The Ukrainian president completed the trip with another victory, watching as the Senate voted by a landslide majority to introduce new sanctions against countries buying Russian oil.
The publication notes that this was the culmination of the day, which turned out to be a remarkable turn after Zelensky's previous visit. The vote, which the Ukrainian leader watched from the gallery in the Senate chamber, brought Congress one step closer to achieving the main priority for Zelensky and is another signal that Kyiv's fate is improving not only on the battlefield.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that sanctions could help consolidate the gains Ukraine has made in combat and force Putin to the negotiating table, even as he renewed his request for greater access to key weapons systems.
Clearly, Zelenskyy’s proposal carries weight, and lawmakers across the ideological spectrum appear to have backed his strategy. It is also worth noting the emerging consensus that Ukraine can defeat Russia.
"The shift in dynamics is driven by the success they are achieving on the battlefield," said Republican Senator John Boozman.
The vote on sanctions also coincided with the memorial service for the late Senator Lindsey Graham—a proponent of the legislation and a key ally of Ukraine. Zelenskyy attended Graham’s funeral in Washington alongside Trump, senior lawmakers, and other foreign dignitaries.
"The atmosphere surrounding Trump and Zelenskyy is completely different now compared to a year ago, given that Ukraine is performing much better in the war," said a former U.S. administration official.