US Senate passes Russia sanctions championed by late senator Lindsey Graham

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed significant sanctions legislation targeting Russia and Iran, advancing a bill strongly backed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026" aims to intensify economic pressure on Russia for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The legislation also incorporates expanded sanctions against Iran, a priority for President Donald Trump.

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A timely and significant step that strengthens pressure on Russia.

Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and a staunch ally of Ukraine, had championed the bill. Its passage in the Senate, by a vote of 86-11, sets the stage for consideration in the House of Representatives. The Ukrainian embassy in Washington welcomed the vote, calling it a "timely and significant step that strengthens pressure on Russia."

However, the bill's path forward is not guaranteed. Despite broad Senate support, some lawmakers and industries express wariness about the extensive tariff powers granted to President Trump. Representatives Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer voiced "fundamental concerns," stating the president could "weaponize with abandon" these new authorities, potentially increasing costs for U.S. importers and consumers.

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What the bill does grant … are sweeping new tariff authorities that the president could weaponize with abandon, as he has repeatedly done in the past.

Senator Rand Paul was the sole Republican to vote against the bill, likening tariffs to taxes on American consumers. An amendment to remove the tariff powers was rejected. The Senate chamber erupted in applause as Graham's sister, who now holds his seat, announced the final tally, underscoring the bill's connection to the late senator's legacy.

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Only one Senate Republican, Rand Paul, voted against the bill, likening tariffs to taxes on American consumers.