Senate Advances Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill Amid Bipartisan Support
The US Senate has advanced a sweeping Russia sanctions bill in an 86-12 vote, aiming to tighten economic pressure on Moscow and Tehran.
The legislation, formally named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, authorizes President Trump to impose tariffs of up to 200 percent on the world's largest purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with senators behind closed doors before watching the vote from the Senate chamber, saying the bill is 'very important' for cutting off Russia's revenue stream financing its war in Ukraine.
Senators framed the legislation as a strategic effort to deprive President Vladimir Putin of the revenues financing his country's war in Ukraine, rather than just another sanctions package.