US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill

The US Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by an 86-11 vote on August 7, 2026. The bill, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, authorizes the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, including China, India, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan. It also imposes mandatory sanctions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy projects, and extends the Iran Sanctions Act until 2031. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, which is in recess until late August. The legislation is designed to reduce Russia's energy revenues funding its war in Ukraine, but has drawn criticism from some Democrats who fear it grants President Trump excessive tariff authority.