Senator Lindsey Graham devoted much of his legislative career to weakening Russia’s capacity to sustain its war in Ukraine, championing a comprehensive sanctions strategy aimed at the Kremlin.
During the final eighteen months of the previous administration, proposals for a sweeping sanctions package experienced fluctuating support, with advocates seeing periodic advances and setbacks.
In the weeks preceding his death, Graham received confirmation that the White House endorsed his latest sanctions proposal, developed jointly with Senator Richard Blumenthal.
On the day Graham’s sister was sworn into office, a bipartisan coalition of more than a dozen senators formally introduced the long‑awaited legislation.
The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 represents over a year of closed‑door negotiations across party lines and with executive officials, and it now enjoys broad congressional backing.
The bill maintains core provisions such as direct sanctions on President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian officials, and military leaders, tariffs up to 500 % on Russian imports, and tariffs up to 100 % on nations purchasing Russian energy.
New elements include a “national interest certification” that clarifies the president’s authority to waive sanctions and expanded measures targeting Russia’s shadow fleet of ships and tankers that transport energy exports covertly.
Negotiators describe the legislation as the only proposal with unanimous support, positioning it as the most viable tool for exerting pressure on Russia.
Nevertheless, the Senate leadership cautions that the measure could become entangled in broader partisan battles, as seen in recent disputes over defense funding and other foreign‑policy initiatives.
Lawmakers anticipate that the House may attach additional provisions to the bill, but they express confidence that sufficient momentum exists to advance the core sanctions framework.
Colleagues view the legislation as a defining element of Graham’s legacy, with senior senators noting its potential to save lives by curbing Russia’s war‑financing capabilities.
