US Senate passes Russia sanctions championed by Graham; US House next

The US Senate approved a comprehensive Russia sanctions bill on Friday, advancing a long-awaited measure championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The legislation aims to intensify economic pressure on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine and includes expanded sanctions on Iran, a demand from the previous US administration.

Senate leaders had previously withheld consideration due to resistance from the Trump administration, which maintained executive control over sanctions decisions since his second term began in January 2025. The Senate voted 86-11 in favor of the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," sanctioning Russian officials and authorizing significant tariffs on China, India, and other nations to diminish their reliance on Russian energy resources.

Ukrainian officials in Washington applauded the passage, describing it as a timely and substantial step that bolsters pressure on Russia. However, the bill's passage through the US House of Representatives remains uncertain, with some lawmakers and industries expressing concerns about potential tariffs' impact on US importers and consumers, as well as the possibility of political repercussions.

While Democrats like Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer raised concerns about the tariff provisions, Republicans remained divided, with only two voting against the bill. The Senate rejected amendments that would have removed the tariff provisions, and Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock received a commitment from Trump's US Trade Representative to impose certain restrictions on the tariff authorities.

If approved by the House and signed into law by Trump, the legislation would enable the president to impose tariffs up to 100% on countries that are major consumers of Russian energy, effectively targeting India, Japan, and several EU nations.