The Senate passed sweeping Russia sanctions legislation Friday with overwhelming bipartisan support, voting 86-11 to advance the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, a measure designed to drain the Kremlin’s war chest by penalizing countries that buy Russian energy and targeting Putin’s inner circle.
The bill imposes tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries in the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, including China and India. It also authorizes tariffs reaching up to 500% on Russia’s exports overall, giving President Trump new legal authority to pressure nations still buying Russian energy despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Beyond tariffs, the legislation imposes direct sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, top military commanders, oligarchs, and Russian financial institutions. It includes visa bans on Russian officials and expands existing restrictions on Russia’s energy and financial sectors. The bill also extends sanctions on Iran’s weapons and energy sectors at Trump’s request.
The measure represents a rare bipartisan accomplishment in an election year and caps a months-long legislative effort championed by late Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who died last month after a trip to Kyiv. Graham spent his final days working to advance the bill, and party leaders announced an agreement to pass it in his honor. On the day of Graham’s funeral, the Senate took its first procedural step toward advancing the legislation as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy watched from the chamber.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the bill would help protect Ukraine against Russian aggression. “The fastest way to end Russia’s invasion is to cut off its money,” Thune stated, emphasizing that oil revenue funds Russia’s military effort. Following the vote, Zelenskyy thanked the Senate on social media, saying the bill’s advancement “certainly helps increase pressure on the aggressor to bring this insane Russian war against our independence and our people to an end.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also praised the action, calling for Europe and the United States to “drain Russia’s means to continue a war it cannot win.”
Rand Paul of Kentucky was the sole Republican to vote against the bill, joined by 10 Democrats in opposition. Some Democrats, including Senator Ron Wyden, expressed concern that the legislation gives Trump excessive discretion over tariff authority. “Trump can pick and choose even more countries to tariff every 180 days, but there is no mechanism in this bill for Congress to roll back these tariffs,” Wyden said. House Democrats Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer similarly warned the bill would allow Trump to “weaponize” tariff powers, noting that Trump recently imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.
The measure now proceeds to the House of Representatives, which is on recess until late August. Speaker Mike Johnson may face similar resistance from Democrats concerned about expanding presidential tariff authority, though the bill’s bipartisan Senate backing and focus on supporting Ukraine could smooth its path. The legislation represents Congress’s most comprehensive effort to date to impose economic consequences on Russia for its invasion, building on existing sanctions frameworks established since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Sources
- The Guardian — Senate passage vote count, bill provisions (tariffs, sanctions on Putin and military commanders), Graham’s role, Zelenskyy and von der Leyen reactions, Democratic concerns about tariff authority
- CNBC — Bill passage, tariff details (100% on top five oil/gas purchasers, 500% on exports), sanctions on Russian leaders and financial institutions, Thune’s statement, Blumenthal’s comments, Democratic opposition concerns
- PBS NewsHour, NBC News, Reuters, Al Jazeera — Confirmation of 86-11 vote, bill naming, passage date (August 7, 2026), House next steps
- The Hill — Rand Paul as sole Republican opponent, amendment vote details (32-64 rejection)
