The US Senate has moved forward with a major sanctions bill targeting Russia’s energy sector, which could give President Donald Trump the authority to impose strict measures against Russian officials and introduce tariffs of up to 100% on countries including India and China for buying Russian oil and gas.
The legislation was advanced on Tuesday shortly after the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, who introduced the bill. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the funeral in Washington. Graham was among the strongest supporters of Ukraine in the US during its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The bill received support from 86 senators, while 12 senators voted against it. If approved, it would allow the US government to sanction Russian officials and impose additional tariffs on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy supplies.
President Donald Trump has backed the bill after requesting the inclusion of sanctions against Iran, which were later added. The move comes as tensions between the US and Iran continue, with no final ceasefire agreement reached after months of conflict.
While many Democrats support stronger action against Russia, some have raised concerns over the president receiving broad authority to impose tariffs. They warned that higher tariffs could increase import costs and impact American consumers.
If the bill becomes law, Trump would have the power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries such as India, Japan, and some European Union members. He would also have the authority to remove or adjust those tariffs at his discretion.
The legislation still needs to clear further procedural votes in the Senate before moving to the House of Representatives when it returns in September.
Debate Over Tariffs and Russia Pressure
Critics of the bill, including senior Democratic lawmakers, have argued that it could provide Trump with wide-ranging tariff powers rather than functioning only as a Russia sanctions measure.
Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the bill could become a way to impose additional tariffs that may hurt American families and even impact US allies.
Supporters, however, believe the tariffs would be targeted enough to reduce Russia’s energy revenues without causing major economic damage to Americans. They argue the bill represents one of the strongest opportunities for Congress to pressure Russia and support Ukraine.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a co-sponsor of the bill, said after the Senate vote that the legislation has the strongest chance of passing and receiving President Trump’s approval.
