US House passes Russia sanctions bill championed by late Senator Graham
WASHINGTON: The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a sweeping sanctions and tariff bill intended to increase economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, sending the bill to President Donald Trump to sign into law nearly 1-1/2 years after the late Senator Lindsey Graham introduced it.
The US House of Representatives passed a comprehensive sanctions and tariff bill on Wednesday, aimed at intensifying economic pressure on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The legislation, named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in honor of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, cleared the Senate last month with overwhelming bipartisan support.
The House approved the bill by a 262-159 vote, with a handful of Democrats joining most Republicans in backing the measure. The legislation targets Russia's energy and defense sectors, as well as its tankers that circumvent existing sanctions. The bill also empowers President Donald Trump to impose significant tariffs on China, India, and other entities to reduce their reliance on Russian oil and gas, while extending sanctions on Iran.
Ukrainian parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk expressed gratitude for the US Congress' support, stating that the passage marks a significant step toward increasing pressure on Russia, its military, and those financing its aggression against Ukraine. The bill's passage comes nearly 1.5 years after Graham introduced it and comes as Russia has launched full-scale military operations in Ukraine, resulting in one of the deadliest conflicts in Europe since World War Two.
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