A bipartisan coalition of senators has officially introduced the "Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026," a legislative measure championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The bill is designed to exert significant financial pressure on Russian leadership in a bid to conclude the Kremlin's four-year war in Ukraine. According to a Senate aide, the text of the legislation was finalized before Senator Graham traveled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week. Senator Graham died suddenly on Saturday shortly after returning to the United States.
The proposed act targets Russia's energy sector, which serves as a primary revenue stream for the ongoing conflict. Under the bill, mandatory sanctions would be imposed on Russian President Vladimir Putin, his top deputies, the Russian military, and key financial and energy institutions. Furthermore, the legislation seeks to penalize foreign entities that conduct business with Russia, including those associated with the country's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers. It would also prohibit Americans from purchasing Russian debt or engaging in business activities with the Russian government and its energy sector.
A core component of the bill involves heavy tariffs on major purchasers of Russian energy. Tariffs reaching up to 100% would be applied to the top five buyers of Russian oil, currently identified as China, India, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan. The top five purchasers of Russian natural gas—China, France, Belgium, Japan, and Hungary—would face similar penalties, though countries whose natural gas imports account for less than 15% of Russia's total exports would be exempt. The U.S. would reevaluate these lists every 180 days to encourage nations to shift toward alternative energy sources. The president would retain the flexibility to grant exemptions if proper justification is provided to Congress.
Support for the bill is growing, with 26 cosponsors recorded by 1 p.m. Tuesday. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut described the legislation as a "fitting tribute" to Senator Graham's commitment to Ukraine's freedom. GOP Senator Katie Britt of Alabama echoed this sentiment, noting that Graham viewed the passage of this bill as the most significant achievement of his career. Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas has announced plans to introduce a House version of the legislation this week, urging his colleagues to pass it in honor of the late senator. GOP Representative Mike Turner, who accompanied Graham to Kyiv, expressed optimism that the Senate will move to pass the bill as part of Graham's political legacy.
