The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve a new set of tough sanctions against Russia. This action comes after a long campaign led by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The legislation is meant to reduce funding for the war in Ukraine by targeting countries that still buy Russian oil and gas.
The bill passed with a vote of 86 to 11, showing strong support across party lines, according to The Associated Press. It would allow the president to impose tariffs on top buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India, according to a report from CBS News. There are exceptions for countries that import less than 15% of their gas from Russia and are working to lower those imports.
The package also includes penalties for Russian leaders, financial institutions, and energy projects. It gives the president power to impose tariffs of up to 500% on Russian imports, including oil and gas, Euronews reported. The bill targets older tankers that Russia uses to avoid U.S. sanctions on its oil exports.
President Donald Trump has backed the bill and wants it passed by Congress as soon as possible. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was present in the Senate gallery during the vote. He had visited Washington shortly after Senator Graham’s funeral to show support for the effort.
Graham died suddenly in July, likely from an aortic tear, after returning from Ukraine. His team had been working with the White House on the bill for more than a year. The legislation also includes new sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
The bill is named after Senator Graham, who had championed it until his death. It would allow the president to waive sanctions if he says it is in the national interest. Some lawmakers were concerned about giving Trump too much power to impose tariffs that could raise prices for Americans.
Senate Democrats and some Republicans worried about inflation risks from new tariffs. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said the bill could pressure Putin to consider peace talks. She also pointed out that the vote comes before Russia’s own elections, which may affect the situation.
A proposal to remove Trump’s tariff power was rejected by a vote of 32 to 64. Senators Rand Paul and Ron Wyden argued that the plan would hurt American consumers. Senator Raphael Warnock said the bill should balance efforts to stop Putin and limit Trump’s tariff power.
Representative Gregory Meeks, who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the bill gives Trump too much control. He warned that it could be used in ways that hurt Americans more than it helps Ukraine. Meeks said the vote on the Paul-Wyden amendment showed lawmakers wanted changes to the bill.
The House had already passed a similar measure in June that supports Ukraine and sanctions Russia. That bill was supported by both Democrats and Republicans, even though some GOP leaders had objections. The House is not voting on the bill until early September due to its summer recess.
If passed, the bill would be one of the strongest actions yet by Congress during Trump’s second term. It is expected to be a major step in how the U.S. continues to support Ukraine and respond to Russian actions. The Senate’s vote shows strong unity on the issue, even as some lawmakers remain cautious about how it will be implemented.
Lawmakers are now waiting for the House to act on the bill before it can become law.
IMAGE: Senate portrait of Lindsey Graham.. Photo: US Senate / Wikimedia, taken 2006-08-01, Public domain