The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly passed legislation that would introduce sweeping sanctions against Russia and expand penalties on Iran, clearing a major hurdle for a bill that has been delayed for more than a year.
The proposed legislation sanctions officials in Moscow and allows U.S. President Donald Trump to introduce 100 per cent tariffs on the five countries that are the biggest consumers of Russian oil and gas. China, India, Japan, as well as some European Union countries, could be hit by the measure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the legislation would increase pressure on Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine.
“Real, strong American pressure and sanctions against Russia are what will help the most. Diplomacy comes closer with every step of pressure on the aggressor.
“Thank you to everyone who understands this and advances PEACE through STRENGTH,” he wrote on X.
The proposed legislation also extends sanctions against Iran’s energy industry and weapons programme, which are due to expire.
The Senate passed the bill by 86 votes to 11, with backing from Democrats and Republicans. It has been named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, in honour of the Republican senator who spent more than a year pushing for the legislation before his death in July.
As well as the tariff powers, the bill imposes sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, government officials, oligarchs and their family members, along with Russian banks and financial institutions. It also targets Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers and shell companies used to move oil around existing sanctions.
Countries that import less than 15 per cent of their natural gas from Russia, and are taking steps to reduce that further, would be exempt from the tariffs.
The bill still has to clear the U.S. House of Representatives, where some lawmakers have raised concerns about handing such broad tariff powers to the White House.
Supporters say the bill offers the clearest sign yet of bipartisan appetite in Washington to increase pressure on Moscow, and are hopeful it can pass the House when lawmakers return from their summer recess on 31 August.
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