US Congress passes sweeping sanctions and tariff bill targeting Russia

The United States House of Representatives has passed a sweeping sanctions and tariff bill aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia, sending the measure to President Donald Trump after it had already cleared the Senate. Lawmakers voted 262 to 159, with dozens of Democrats joining most Republicans in support. The legislation targets Russia's energy and defence industries, as well as its shadow fleet of tankers used to move oil and gas outside existing sanctions.

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The bill also authorises Mr Trump to impose tariffs on China, India and other countries linked to Russian oil and gas purchases, making it broader than a conventional sanctions package. It is now called the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, after the late South Carolina senator who introduced it with other lawmakers in April 2025.

The Senate approved the measure last month by 86 to 11, and Ukrainian officials have publicly welcomed the move as added pressure on Moscow's war effort. The vote marks a significant escalation in the use of trade and sanctions tools against Russia, nearly four years after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. It also reflects a rare moment of bipartisan alignment in Congress on Ukraine-related legislation, even as the bill exposed some divisions among Democrats over the scope of presidential tariff powers.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the measure, arguing that it could be used against US allies and might contain loopholes that weaken its effect. The legislation matters because it links Russia's war economy to the wider global energy market. By threatening tariffs on major importers of Russian energy, it could increase pressure on Moscow's revenue streams while also affecting trade relations with countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas.

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The bill also extends the possibility of sanctions on Iran, adding another layer to Washington's broader economic pressure campaign. The measure has been closely associated with the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who helped drive the effort in Congress before his death in July. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged lawmakers to back the bill, and Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said its passage was a concrete step toward increasing pressure on Russia and those helping finance its aggression.

The legislation also highlights the continuing debate over how much control the White House should have over tariffs and sanctions, a central issue in Mr Trump's foreign policy approach. What remains unclear is how quickly Mr Trump will sign the bill and how aggressively the administration will use the new powers if it becomes law. It is also not yet clear how China, India and other countries named in the legislation would respond if tariffs are imposed.

The practical impact will depend on enforcement, exemptions and the White House's broader approach to Russia policy in the months ahead.

The United States House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia over its war in Ukraine, sending the measure to President Donald Trump after it had already cleared the Senate. Lawmakers voted 262 to 159 on Wednesday, ending more than a year of delays and obstacles around the legislation. The bill is being described as the first time in more than two years that Congress has passed legislation assisting Ukraine.

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The measure would give the president new powers to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that import energy from Russia, including China and India. It would also expand sanctions against Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers used to keep Russian energy exports moving. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had pushed for the bill's passage and made a direct appeal to senators shortly before they approved it last month.

The vote exposed some divisions within the Democratic Party, even as most Democrats continued to back Ukraine. Fifty-eight Democrats joined a majority of Republicans in supporting the bill, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed it. Jeffries argued that the legislation gave the White House tariff powers that could be used against US allies and said the bill contained loopholes that could limit its effectiveness.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said the measure would place maximum pressure on the Russian war machine and on President Vladimir Putin. The legislation matters because it links Russia's war effort to the wider global energy market. By threatening tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy, the bill could increase pressure on Moscow's revenue streams while also affecting major importers and trading partners.

It also signals a renewed congressional role in Ukraine policy after a long period in which lawmakers had not passed comparable assistance. The bill was championed by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, after whom it was named following his death in July. According to the account of the vote, Graham had helped negotiate Trump's support for the measure before his death.

That background gives the legislation added political weight, since it now moves forward with backing from both chambers of Congress and the president's desk in sight. What remains unclear is how aggressively the White House would use the new powers if the bill becomes law. It is also not yet clear how countries that import Russian energy would respond if tariffs are imposed.

The next step is for President Trump to decide whether to sign the legislation, and the practical impact will depend on how the administration chooses to apply the sanctions and tariff authorities.

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