US House passes Russia sanctions bill championed by Graham, sending it to Trump

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that could impose additional sanctions on Russia. The bill, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, gives President Donald Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that purchase Russian oil and natural gas. According to The Indian Express, the bill passed with 262 votes to 159, with 58 Democrats joining all but seven Republicans in favor.

The bill's passage has raised concerns in India, which is one of the biggest importers of Russian oil and gas. The Indian government has stated that it remains committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people and will continue to diversify its sources of supply based on changing market conditions, as reported by The Economic Times - Economy and The Indian Express - India.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said that it has discussed the issue with US interlocutors and has made clear its determination to protect its trade and economic interests.

The bill now awaits President Trump's signature. According to The Times of Israel, the new measures target officials, banks, and oil tankers, and Ukrainian President Zelensky had lobbied in favor of the legislation. Democrats were split on the bill, fearing that Trump would use new tariffs to harm EU allies.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Times of Israel, The Indian Express, The Economic Times - Economy, The Indian Express - India, Hindustan Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.