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The US Senate voted 86-12 on Tuesday to advance major sanctions legislation targeting Russia’s energy revenues, clearing its first procedural hurdle during a high-profile visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The bipartisan measure aims to weaken Moscow’s ability to fund its ongoing war by restricting Russian officials, oligarchs, financial institutions, and the “shadow fleet” of tankers used to bypass global price caps on Russian crude exports.
The proposed bill grants President Donald Trump sweeping authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods imported from major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.
Senate lawmakers named the legislation in honour of late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who crafted the revised compromise with the White House shortly before his death.
The bill also incorporates an extension of sanctioning powers targeting Iran’s energy and weapons sectors, added at President Trump’s explicit request.
Zelensky pushed for the measure during meetings with President Trump at the White House and in an address to senators before the vote.
While the bill passed its initial hurdle with strong bipartisan support, several Democrats voiced concerns that granting broad tariff powers to the executive branch could drive up consumer prices in the United States and strain relationships with European allies.
Final passage in Congress remains paused, as the House of Representatives has adjourned for summer recess and will not consider the legislation until September.
