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Wednesday, July 29Wednesday, July 29
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to advance a bipartisan bill that would impose new sanctions on Russia and Iran, honoring the legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The vote, which took place just hours after Graham's funeral, was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who expressed his gratitude for the support.
The bill, named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, aims to cut off revenues from Moscow's war chest by targeting countries that buy Russian oil and gas. It would allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas, as well as on the top five countries that facilitate Russian oil sanctions evasion. The initial proposal called for a 500% tariff, but it was scaled down to a maximum of 100%.
The legislation also includes sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, Russian banks and financial institutions, and the Russian shadow fleet. Additionally, it extends previously approved sanctions on Iran that were set to expire this year until 2031, restricting funding for Iran's energy and weapons sector.
The vote to advance the bill was 86-12, with strong bipartisan support. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) stated that the bill sends a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his days of war are numbered. "Ukraine's fight is our fight," Blumenthal said, echoing the sentiments of the late Senator Graham, who was a strong advocate for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Washington to attend Graham's funeral and meet with President Trump, watched the vote from the Senate chamber. After the vote, Zelensky thanked lawmakers for advancing the bill, calling it a big signal to Europe, Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people. "This bill is very important, sanctions against Russia are very important," Zelensky told the press. "It's not only about money that helps Russia wage its war, but it's also a big signal to Europe, Ukraine, and our people, so I'm very thankful."
The bill must still clear a series of additional procedural votes before passing in the Senate. After that, it will be considered by the House of Representatives, which is not in session again until September. Some Democrats have expressed concerns about the tariff provisions, arguing that they could lead to higher import costs for American families. However, the bill's backers believe that the tariffs are narrow enough to achieve their intended goal of reducing Russian energy revenue without negative consequences.
The legislation was originally introduced by Senator Graham last year and had garnered the support of most senators. However, it languished on Capitol Hill as President Trump repeatedly sought to negotiate an end to the four-year-long war in Ukraine. A day before his death on July 11, Graham announced that he had reached an agreement with the White House to move forward with the bill.
The vote to advance the bill was seen as a tribute to Graham's legacy and his commitment to supporting Ukraine. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said on the Senate floor ahead of the vote, "Today, many of us attended his service at the National Cathedral, and in typical Lindsey fashion, he somehow orchestrated a vote on Ukraine’s future."
The bill's passage in the Senate is expected to provide momentum for its passage in the House of Representatives, most likely in the autumn. However, some Democrats have indicated that they may oppose the bill due to concerns about the tariff provisions.
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US Senate advances Russia sanctions as Zelensky visits
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mastodon bot · about 5 hours ago
86 senators vote to move forward with Graham Russia sanctions bill In a massive show of bipartisanship, 86 senators voted to move forward with a Russia and Iran sanctions bill that had been championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.Why it matters: The vote came hours after senators gathered to honor Grahams memory, and immediately following a closed-door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The vote was 86-12. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the only Republican to vote against it.It is a procedural vote, but leadership hopes that the strong bipartisan support will allow for an expedited path to final passage.The details: The bill had been led by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and reached more than 60 co-sponsors this month.The legislation would impose 100 secondary tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil and gas.The bill also targets Russias "shadow fleet" — the network of aging tankers used to evade Western sanctions while exporting Russian oil.It was also updated to renew sanctions on Iran set to expire after the end of the year.Between the lines: The sanctions package has long had wide bipartisan support, but concerns from the White House held it up for months.Graham had been the key negotiator with the White House, trying to adjust language to ensure President Trumps signature.After the senators unexpected death, Trump indicated they would work to get the package done.Zoom in: Some Democrats were hesitant to vote for the package, concerned about Trumps use of tariffs,Zelenskyy and Finnish President s Alexander Stubb gave compelling arguments for the need for the sanctions and tariffs package, arguing that Russia is in a losing position, sources tell Axios.Zelenskyy watched the vote from the Senate chamber.
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mastodon bot · about 6 hours ago
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orf.at · about 6 hours ago
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mastodon bot · about 7 hours ago
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