U.S. Senate Russia Sanctions Bill Negotiated by Late Sen. Lindsey Graham

AP

U.S. Senate.

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved a sweeping package of sanctions against Russia on Friday, marking the culmination of a year-long campaign led by the late Senator Lindsey Graham to strengthen U.S. support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin as the war continues.

The bipartisan legislation passed by a vote of 86-11 and would impose penalties on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports, with the aim of reducing the revenues Moscow uses to finance its military campaign.

The vote came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited the U.S. Capitol last week following Graham's funeral. During the visit, he met senators from both political parties and observed the Senate's initial procedural votes on the legislation from the public gallery.

The U.S. Senate's move is the most substantial move yet during President Donald Trump’s second term to shift the dynamic of the four-year war, which has now churned longer than World War I. Congress has struggled to ensure the flow of U.S. funding and munitions to Ukraine, but Trump has given a nod to the package, which includes his push for sanctions on Iran, pressuring the House to pass and send it for his signature.

Sen. Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal had announced a deal with the White House on the sanctions legislation on July 10 after more than a year of negotiations with the White House. Graham, who had just returned from Ukraine, died suddenly the next day, likely from an aortic tear.

The bipartisan package allows the president to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, including China and India. It provides exceptions for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are taking steps to reduce those imports.

The legislation also includes sanctions on Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, Russian financial institutions and Russian energy projects. It would expand U.S. sanctions to target older, reflagged oil tankers that Russia uses to circumvent existing U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and energy revenues. The bill also allows the White House to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that it’s in the national interest.

The U.S. House of Representatives had already passed a separate measure in June that would provide aid to Ukraine and sanction key segments of the Russian economy. 



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