The U.S. Senate approved the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia Act on August 7, with an 86‑11 bipartisan vote, authorizing tariffs up to 100% on imports from the world's top five buyers of Russian oil and gas.
The bill, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was negotiated with the White House and passed after his death, with President Zelenskyy and European leaders praising the measure. It also targets Russian officials, banks, and the shadow fleet.
The sanctions aim to cut Russia’s war funding by curbing revenue from energy sales, while the tariff provisions could shift global energy trade flows and increase costs for importers such as China, India, Turkey, the EU, and other sanctioned states.
Some Democrats, including Rand Paul and Ron Wyden, opposed the tariff provisions, arguing they grant the president excessive discretion; the Senate rejected their amendment, leaving the tariff authority intact.