The Senate took its first major step toward implementing sanctions championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The legislation, initially drafted by Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal, aims to curb Russian oil and gas revenues that finance the war in Ukraine.
A bipartisan group, led by Blumenthal and Senator Darline Graham, reached an agreement to rename the bill the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act and to expand sanctions on Iran’s weapons and energy sectors. The renaming honors Graham’s legacy and underscores his steadfast support for Ukraine.
The bill targets Russia’s energy exports by imposing up to 500% tariffs on Russian imports and up to 100% tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil or gas, such as China and India. It also sanctions President Putin, senior officials, and military leaders, while extending sanctions authority against Iran’s financing of weapons and energy projects.
President Trump is given flexibility to determine when certain sanctions provisions take effect, reflecting Graham’s belief that economic pressure can end wars without deploying troops. The approach aligns with the senator’s longstanding advocacy for using sanctions as a primary tool of foreign policy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended Graham’s funeral in Washington, met with President Trump and congressional leaders, and called for revitalized diplomacy and expanded Patriot missile production capabilities. He emphasized that diplomatic engagement must be reinforced alongside military assistance to counter Russia’s aggression.
