U.S. senators introduce sweeping Russia sanctions bill to honor Lindsey Graham, target Moscow’s energy revenues
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has introduced a sweeping sanctions package aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia by targeting its leadership, financial institutions, military and energy sector, while imposing steep tariffs on countries that continue purchasing Russian oil and natural gas.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026,” was one of the final initiatives championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham before his sudden death over the weekend. Lawmakers from both major political parties are now seeking to advance the bill, describing its passage as a lasting tribute to Graham’s unwavering support for Ukraine during Russia’s ongoing invasion.
The legislation is designed to weaken Russia’s ability to finance its military operations in Ukraine by restricting one of the Kremlin’s largest sources of income—its energy exports. If enacted, the bill would impose mandatory sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior government officials, military leaders, major Russian banks, energy companies, foreign businesses trading with Russia and the country’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers used to circumvent existing international sanctions.
In addition to expanding sanctions, the proposal would prohibit Americans from purchasing Russian sovereign debt or conducting business with the Russian government and its energy sector, further tightening financial restrictions already imposed by the United States and its allies.
One of the bill’s most significant provisions is the introduction of tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries that remain the largest buyers of Russian energy products.
Based on current trade patterns, the top five importers of Russian crude oil, China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan, would be subject to the new tariffs. Similar penalties would also apply to the largest buyers of Russian natural gas, including China, France, Belgium, Japan and Hungary. However, countries whose gas imports account for less than 15 percent of Russia’s total natural gas exports would qualify for exemptions.
To ensure the sanctions remain effective, the legislation would require U.S. authorities to reassess the world’s five largest buyers of Russian energy every 180 days. The goal is to encourage these nations to diversify their energy supplies while increasing financial pressure on Moscow to end the war.
The proposal also grants the U.S. president limited authority to exempt specific countries or entities from the sanctions and tariffs, provided a formal justification is submitted to Congress.
The White House has already indicated its support for the legislation, signaling growing momentum behind the proposal as Washington continues to strengthen its backing for Ukraine.
According to Senate aides, the bill had already been finalized before Senator Graham met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv during what would become one of his final overseas visits. Graham died unexpectedly shortly after returning to the United States.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal described the legislation as a powerful way to honor Graham’s legacy, saying its passage would reflect the late senator’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s freedom and sovereignty.
Republican Senator Katie Britt echoed those sentiments, noting that Graham believed the sanctions package could become one of the most consequential achievements of his public service by helping bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
Support for the bill continues to grow on Capitol Hill. By Tuesday afternoon, it had already secured 26 bipartisan co-sponsors, with Senate aides expecting additional lawmakers to join in the coming days.
Momentum is also building in the House of Representatives. Congressman Mike Turner, who accompanied Graham on his recent trip to Kyiv, expressed hope that the Senate would approve the legislation as one of the late senator’s defining legacies. Meanwhile, Representative Michael McCaul announced plans to introduce companion legislation in the House this week, urging Congress to pass the measure in Graham’s honor.
If approved by Congress and signed into law, the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 would represent one of the most comprehensive U.S. sanctions packages against Russia since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, significantly escalating economic pressure on Moscow while increasing diplomatic costs for countries that continue to rely heavily on Russian energy exports.
