Senate passes sanctions bill targeting Russia championed by Lindsey Graham

What This is

• The Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by an 86–11 vote.
• The bill is meant to raise economic pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine by targeting Russian leaders, banks, and energy revenues.
• It would authorize new sanctions and visa bans on senior Russian officials and other entities tied to Russia’s government and defense sector.
• A central provision lets the president impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the five biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas, with waiver and exception options.
• The bill also includes measures aimed at Russia’s “shadow fleet,” the tankers and networks used to move oil and evade sanctions.
• The bill now goes to the House, where some Democrats and other critics have warned the tariff provisions give the president overly broad trade power.

Why This Matters

• It shows both parties still back using financial pressure to weaken Russia’s war effort, not just battlefield aid.
• Threatening tariffs on major buyers tries to force countries like India and China to choose between U.S. trade and Russian energy.
• The tariff authority revives a debate over who controls trade policy: Congress or the president.
• Linking Russia and Iran penalties could widen the economic fallout across two conflicts at once.