US Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill Championed by Late Lindsey Graham

The US Senate voted 86-11 to pass a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia's economy and energy revenue, advancing a measure championed by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Key points

• The legislation includes provisions allowing the president to issue tariffs of up to 100% on major consumers of Russian oil and gas such as China and India.
• The bill also extends existing sanctions authority regarding Iranian energy and weapons.
• The measure now requires approval from the House of Representatives before it can proceed to President Trump for a signature.
• Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul was the sole member of his party to vote against the bill, warning that tariffs act as consumer taxes.

Why it matters

The legislation represents a significant bipartisan push to curb Russian war funding through severe economic penalties and energy tariffs, though it faces potential hurdles and skepticism in the House over presidential tariff powers.