WASHINGTON: The US Senate on Tuesday moved forward with a major bipartisan sanctions bill aimed at cutting Russia’s energy revenues and increasing pressure on Moscow over its ongoing war in Ukraine.
Senators voted 86-12 to begin formal consideration of the legislation, clearing the first procedural hurdle. However, the bill still requires further debate and a final vote before it can move ahead.
The proposed measure targets a wide range of Russian interests, including government officials, wealthy oligarchs, financial institutions and the “shadow fleet” of vessels accused of helping Moscow bypass restrictions on its oil exports.
‘IT’S GONNA PASS’— US Senate salivates over Lindsey Graham’s ‘Russia sanctions Bill’ with 86 votes against 12 pic.twitter.com/CLHziNErOh
— RT (@RT_com) July 29, 2026
A key provision of the legislation would grant President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods imported from major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India.
Supporters of the bill argue that restricting Russia’s energy income is crucial to weakening President Vladimir Putin’s ability to fund the war in Ukraine, which has entered its fifth year.
The Senate vote came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with Trump at the White House and met lawmakers in Washington to seek stronger US support against Russia.
Zelensky also addressed senators ahead of the vote, urging continued backing for Ukraine as fighting intensifies and diplomatic efforts led by the United States remain stalled.
The legislation is named after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-time supporter of Ukraine and one of the bill’s leading architects. Graham had spent more than a year building bipartisan support for the measure before his sudden death earlier this month.
In a joint statement, six Republican and Democratic senators said moving ahead with the bill would be a way to honour Graham’s efforts, describing the agreement as a reflection of his commitment to confronting Russia.
The revised version of the legislation also includes provisions requested by Trump to extend existing sanctions powers targeting Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
Despite strong backing for tougher measures against Moscow, some Democrats have expressed concerns over provisions allowing the president broad authority to impose tariffs. They warned the move could increase costs for American consumers and potentially affect relations with European allies.
The US House of Representatives has already begun its summer recess and is unlikely to take up the legislation before September, meaning final approval could face delays.
