US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill 86-11, House to vote in September
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
The U.S. Senate voted 86 to 11 on Friday to pass sweeping sanctions legislation against Russia, advancing a long-stalled bill named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, where a fight looms over provisions giving President Donald Trump expansive new tariff powers and the ability to waive sanctions.
The Senate Vote
The U.S. Senate on Friday passed the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Russia Sanctions Act’ by a wide margin, with Reuters reporting an 86-11 tally and Nur.kz citing 68-9. The bill, named after the late South Carolina senator and Ukraine ally who died in July, had languished for over a year amid resistance from the Trump administration. It codifies existing executive sanctions on Russian officials and entities, including President Vladimir Putin and Sberbank, and adds new measures targeting Russia’s shadow fleet and Iran.
Trump’s New Tariff and Sanction Powers
The legislation grants President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the top five countries buying Russian oil and gas, a list likely to include India, China, and Turkey, according to Nur.kz. Trump may also temporarily suspend sanctions with minimal congressional notification. The same power was previously used to lift sanctions on Russian crude after the U.S. strike on Iran, allowing Moscow to sell over 100 million barrels from stranded tankers, Nur.kz reported.
Path to Becoming Law
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, which is in recess until September, after which it must pass before reaching Trump’s desk. If signed, the president has 30 days to implement the sanctions and must review them every six months. Debate in the House is expected to focus on the tariff provisions, which could spark pushback from some Republicans, Reuters noted.
What's Next
The House is slated to return after Labor Day to take up the measure. It remains unclear whether President Trump will sign the bill intact or leverage the tariff component to extract political concessions, especially as some in his party voice concerns over potential trade fallout.
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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill 86-11, House to vote in September
