Senate passes long-stalled Russia sanctions bill championed by Lindsey Graham
The Senate has tried for more than a year to get the legislation imposing sanctions on Russia across the finish line. It also includes sanctions on Iran.
The Senate passed a long-stalled bill on Friday imposing new sanctions on Russia in response to its ongoing war in Ukraine, with a vote of 86 to 11. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, champion of the legislation, died in July, but his support for the bill revived after a deal was struck with the White House following his death. The bill, titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, permits the president to impose up to 100% tariffs on Russia's top five oil and natural gas importers, with exemptions for nations importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and making significant reductions.
Additionally, the bill extends sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, his officials, oligarchs, banks, and financial institutions, as well as Iran's energy and weapons sectors. The measure received a boost from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who attended the Senate vote on June 29, stating that Graham's final trip to Ukraine made the passage of the bill a "deeply symbolic" tribute to his memory.
The bill's passage in the House is expected to be delayed until the August break, with some Democrats expressing skepticism about the tariff provisions, with Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York arguing that it provides Trump with a "Trojan horse" for tarif authority.
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