Washington: The US Senate has overwhelmingly approved a major sanctions bill aimed at putting greater economic pressure on Russia and countries that continue to buy its oil and gas. The legislation passed by a vote of 86 to 11, marking an important step in efforts to reduce the money flowing to Moscow while the war in Ukraine continues.
The bill, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, has been under discussion for more than a year. It was strongly supported by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who had made tougher action against Russia one of his major priorities. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives, where it could face a more difficult political debate.
One of the most important parts of the legislation is its proposed use of tariffs against countries that continue to purchase large amounts of Russian energy. If the bill becomes law, President Donald Trump would have the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on certain countries that remain major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
The measure is designed to make it more expensive for countries to continue doing business with Russia and, in turn, put pressure on Moscow's energy income. Russia relies heavily on oil and gas revenues to support its economy and finance its military operations. The United States and its allies have been looking for ways to reduce those revenues without creating a complete disruption to global energy supplies.
China and India are among the countries that could be affected because they have remained important buyers of Russian oil. The legislation could also affect other major purchasers of Russian energy, including some countries in Europe and Asia. However, the bill does not automatically impose a 100 percent tariff on these countries. Instead, it would give the US president the authority to introduce such tariffs under the conditions set out in the legislation.
The bill also contains provisions aimed directly at Russia. These include tougher sanctions against Russian officials, financial institutions and energy projects. It would also strengthen efforts to target vessels that help Russia move oil while attempting to avoid existing international sanctions.
The legislation comes at a time when Washington is trying to maintain pressure on Moscow over its continuing war against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the Senate action, viewing stronger sanctions as an important way for the United States to demonstrate continued support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy recently visited the US Capitol and met with senators from both parties as the legislation moved forward.
Despite the strong Senate vote, the bill is not yet US law. It must still pass the House of Representatives before it can reach the president. The House is expected to consider the legislation after lawmakers return from their summer recess on August 31.
The debate in the House could be difficult because some lawmakers have concerns about giving the president broad authority to impose tariffs. Critics argue that such powers could be used too widely and could also increase costs for American businesses and consumers. Some lawmakers have therefore called for stronger limits on the president's tariff authority.
The Senate rejected efforts to remove the tariff provisions, allowing them to remain in the final legislation that passed. Supporters argue that the threat of heavy tariffs could encourage countries to reduce their purchases of Russian energy and make it harder for Russia to maintain its wartime revenues.
For Russia, the legislation represents another potential challenge to its energy trade. Moscow has managed to maintain significant oil exports despite years of Western sanctions, with countries such as India and China becoming increasingly important customers. Any serious effort to discourage those purchases could affect Russia's income as well as international oil markets.
For India and other major Russian oil buyers, the situation will now depend partly on what happens in the House and how the administration would use the powers if the bill eventually becomes law. The legislation therefore does not mean that new tariffs have already been imposed.
The Senate vote nevertheless represents a major political signal. With strong support from both Republicans and Democrats, the measure shows that there remains significant backing in Washington for increasing economic pressure on Russia.
The next stage will be closely watched in Washington, Moscow, New Delhi and Beijing. If the House approves the bill and Trump signs it, the United States would gain another powerful tool for pressuring countries that continue to purchase Russian energy. The outcome could have wider consequences for international trade, energy prices and the global effort to restrict Russia's ability to finance its war in Ukraine.