Trump Enacts Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill Honoring Late Senator Lindsey Graham
President Trump signs the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, targeting energy buyers and officials to address the ongoing war.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, USA — President Trump officially signed a comprehensive legislative package on Friday aimed at imposing sanctions on Russia and threatening tariffs against its primary energy customers. The bill serves as a tribute to the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who was a vocal proponent of the measures.
The legislation, officially titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, cleared the House with bipartisan backing earlier this week. While the Senate approved the measure in August, some Democrats voiced reservations regarding the expansion of presidential authority over tariffs.
Under the new law, the president is empowered to levy tariffs reaching 100% on the five biggest importers of Russian natural gas and oil. Furthermore, the act targets Russian President Vladimir Putin, his administration, key oligarchs, and various financial institutions in response to the war in Ukraine.
The sanctions are expected to significantly impact China and India, which currently stand as the largest buyers of Russian crude oil. This development comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between Mr. Trump and Xi Jinping at the White House on Sept. 24.
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Beyond Russia, the bill broadens existing sanctions against the weapons and energy sectors of Iran. The global oil market previously faced volatility due to the U.S. conflict with Iran, a situation that initially provided economic advantages to Russia.
Senator Graham had been actively advocating for this legislation shortly before his unexpected passing in July at age 71. He died in Washington from a torn aorta shortly after returning from a visit to Ukraine, and Mr. Trump later delivered the eulogy at his funeral.
As the war in Ukraine persists, diplomatic efforts continue, including recent visits to Moscow and Kyiv by Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Mr. Trump has expressed personal frustration regarding the conflict, noting that he has been unable to resolve it despite previous campaign promises to end the war by his first day in office.
Reflecting on his recent communications with the Russian leader, Mr. Trump remarked that the holdup is two people that hate each other. He added that he believes the mutual animosity is the primary obstacle to peace.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
