The Senate approved the Lindsey Graham‑named Russia sanctions bill by an 86‑11 vote on Friday, authorizing new tariffs on the world’s five biggest purchasers of Russian oil and gas and extending Iran sanctions through 2031. The measure, a bipartisan effort to intensify pressure on Moscow, now moves to the House for consideration.
Senators Richard Blumenthal and other sponsors highlighted the bill’s aim to cripple Russia’s war machine and its shadow‑fleet of oil‑shuttling vessels. The legislation permits the president to levy tariffs on China, India and other top oil buyers, and it was backed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who watched the floor vote from the gallery. An amendment to strip the tariff provisions was defeated 64‑32.
The bill imposes sanctions on Russian individuals, entities and foreign firms that support Moscow’s defense and energy sectors, while extending the Iran Sanctions Act to 2031. By targeting the top five oil purchasers, it seeks to curtail revenue streams that fund the Kremlin, potentially affecting global oil trade flows and compliance costs for companies linked to the sanctioned economies.
Democrats voiced concern that the expanded tariff authority could be misused by President Trump, prompting an amendment from Sens. Rand Paul and Ron Wyden to remove the provisions, which failed 64‑32. Senator Raphael Warnock warned that without a binding commitment, the president might overstep, though U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer offered a written assurance to honor the law.