A bipartisan coalition of senators has introduced a comprehensive sanctions package targeting Russia, a legislative effort championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in his final months.
The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, unveiled Tuesday, aims to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine. The bill represents the culmination of over a year of negotiations across party lines and with the White House.
Hours before his death, Graham received confirmation that the White House supported his and Sen. Richard Blumenthal's, D-Conn., proposed sanctions, according to Blumenthal. "Senator Graham and I were told, very authoritatively, literally just a couple of hours before his death, that the White House was OK with this," Blumenthal stated. "We were exalted, he was as exuberant and as over the moon as I’ve ever seen him."
This iteration of the sanctions package includes provisions for direct sanctions on Putin and Russian officials, tariffs of up to 500% on Russian imports, and tariffs of up to 100% on nations purchasing Russian energy, such as China and India. It also grants President Donald Trump flexibility in determining when to lift certain sanctions.
Key changes in the new bill include the addition of a "national interest certification" for Trump's sanction waiver authority and sanctions specifically targeting the vessels comprising Russia's "shadow fleet," which operates outside regulated channels to export energy.
Senators involved in the negotiations expressed confidence in the bill's potential to pass. A source familiar with the discussions noted that the package has "buy-in from everybody" and is likely the only measure that will move forward to exert pressure on Russia.
However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., acknowledged the volatile nature of Washington politics, suggesting that external political disputes could still impact the bill's progress. The path forward in the House of Representatives also remains a consideration, with concerns that unrelated measures could be attached.
Lawmakers who supported the bill view its advancement as a significant part of Graham's legacy, fulfilling a key piece of unfinished work. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., described the sanctions effort as potentially "Lindsey Graham's greatest achievement when it comes to saving lives."