Trump signs sweeping Russia sanctions over Ukraine war

What Happened

On Friday, US President Donald Trump signed into law the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, a sweeping sanctions package passed by Congress with rare bipartisan support. The bill, negotiated for more than a year by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham before his death in July and co-written with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, sanctions Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior officials, oligarchs, banks, and financial institutions, and targets Moscow’s energy and defence sectors and the shadow fleet of tankers moving Russian oil around Western sanctions. It also extends sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. A key provision gives Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas; China and India, the top two importers of Russian crude, are expected to be hardest hit. The bill passed the Senate last month and the House on Wednesday, with 58 Democrats crossing party lines. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who lobbied lawmakers ahead of the vote, called the legislation 'an extremely powerful tool,' while House Speaker Mike Johnson said it placed 'maximum pressure' on the Russian war machine. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the bill, warning that its tariff powers would raise costs for American families and that its sanctions provisions were full of 'loopholes.'

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The signing marks the first major Ukraine-related bill to clear Congress in more than two years and represents a significant escalation in US efforts to cut funding for Russia's war. By targeting the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India, the law could pressure the two countries that import most Russian crude, potentially altering Russia's revenue streams and diplomatic leverage ahead of Trump's upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. It also tests US relations with India, which has continued to buy Russian oil, and signals renewed bipartisan legislative action on Ukraine after a prolonged impasse.

Watch For

With Trump due to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House in about a week, watch for whether the tariff authority becomes a point of negotiation or friction. India has said it 'remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people,' so its response to potential tariffs will be a key indicator. Also monitor whether Trump exercises the tariff power against any of the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, whether the sanctions on Russian banks and financial institutions are enforced, and whether Russia reacts by adjusting its energy export routes or negotiations posture.