The Senate voted 86-11 to approve a bipartisan Russia sanctions package that authorizes the president to levy tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest foreign purchasers of Russian oil and gas. The vote clears the bill for House action and signals intensified economic pressure on Moscow.
The legislation, championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and backed by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, was finalized after a July 11 deal with the White House. It targets Russia’s energy sector, its shadow fleet, senior officials including President Vladimir Putin, and banks such as Sberbank. The tariff list will be reviewed every 180 days, exempting countries importing less than 15% of Russian gas and showing reduction trends.
If imposed, the tariffs could raise import costs for China, India, Turkey and the EU, the current top five buyers, and may prompt retaliatory trade measures. By cutting revenue streams that fund Russian weapons purchases, the bill aims to tighten financing for the war, while also extending the Iran Sanctions Act to 2031, affecting energy investors in both regions.
Democrats voiced concern that the expanded tariff authority could be misused by President Trump, prompting an amendment to strip the provisions that was defeated 64-32. Senator Raphael Warnock warned of potential legal challenges if the president exceeds the law’s limits.