The U.S. Senate voted 86-12 to advance a sweeping Russia sanctions package inspired by the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, according to AP News. The bipartisan procedural vote took place on Tuesday, just hours after a funeral service for the Republican lawmaker in Washington that was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Senate Advances Russia Sanctions Package Following Lindsey Graham’s Death
The legislation, formally renamed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, cleared its first major procedural hurdle with support from both parties, though 11 Democrats and Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against it. Darline Graham, who was appointed to fill her late brother’s Senate seat, serves as a lead sponsor of the legislation.
Key Provisions and Economic Penalties
The legislation is designed to target Vladimir Putin’s primary war-funding resources by penalizing countries that continue to purchase Russian oil, natural gas, and other exports after more than a year of negotiations. According to cbsnews.com, the measure mandates sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, top military and political leaders, Russian banks, energy companies, foreign entities doing business with Russia, and Moscow’s shadow fleet of oil tankers.
The bill authorizes the president to impose tariffs of up to 500% on Russian imports and up to 100% on top buyers of Russian energy. Under the text, the U.S. would reevaluate the top five purchasers of Russian energy every 180 days. The current top purchasers subject to these provisions include:
- Top Oil Purchasers: China, India, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan (cbsnews.com)
- Top Natural Gas Purchasers: China, France, Belgium, Japan, and Hungary (cbsnews.com)
Countries whose natural gas imports account for less than 15% of their total natural gas supply and that are taking steps to reduce those imports are granted exemptions under the legislation. The president also retains the flexibility to exempt certain entities by providing justification to Congress.
Zelenskyy’s Capitol Visit and Bipartisan Legacy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington to attend Graham’s funeral and watched the Senate vote from the gallery, waving in support to senators below according to AP News. Before the vote, Zelenskyy met with senators to discuss Ukraine’s wartime needs and described the sanctions legislation as important as a moral signal to a country that is weary and tired, though holding its own and then some against Russia
.
Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut had announced an agreement with the White House on the sanctions package on July 10, just a day before Graham’s sudden death from an aortic tear as reported by AP News. Blumenthal recalled that Graham considered the final arrangement to be a major achievement, noting that Graham called the struck deal a big effing deal
during their last conversation.
Legislative Debate and Next Steps
While the package achieved overwhelming bipartisan approval, some Democratic lawmakers expressed skepticism regarding the scope of executive authority granted by the bill. Opponents raised concerns that the measure delegates too much congressional tariff authority directly to the executive branch according to USA Today.
The procedural vote marks the first of several legislative hurdles the package must clear before it can be enacted into law as detailed by USA Today. Proponents in both chambers continue to advocate for its swift passage as a lasting tribute to Graham’s career-long advocacy for Ukrainian defense.
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