Trump signs sweeping Russia sanctions bill

US President Donald Trump has signed into law the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," extending existing sanctions on Iran through 2031 and imposing new restrictions on Russia. The White House confirmed the signing occurred on Friday, following passage of the bill by Congress with bipartisan support. The legislation authorises and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions on Russia, targeting its energy and defense sectors, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior government officials. It also addresses Moscow’s "shadow fleet" of tankers used to bypass Western sanctions. The bill grants Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas, primarily China and India. Exceptions apply to countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and actively reducing such dependence. According to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, China accounted for 50% of Russian crude exports between December 2022 and August 2026, while India accounted for 37%. Turkey and the European Union each accounted for 5%, though Russian energy exports to the EU have declined. The bill also includes sanctions against entities aiding Russia in evading existing sanctions. The legislation was named after Senator Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly in July of an aortic dissection. He had recently returned from a trip to Kyiv and was widely regarded as one of Ukraine’s strongest advocates in Congress. Before his death, Graham had pushed for stronger actions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the bill’s passage, calling it "critically important." He stated that implementing the law fully and swiftly would be the best way to honor Graham’s memory. Zelensky had previously met with US lawmakers to support the measures and attended an early procedural vote from a seat in the House chamber. The bill passed the Senate with 86-11 votes and the House with 262-159. Some Democratic lawmakers opposed granting Trump expanded authority over trade, citing concerns about potential negative impacts on the American economy. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) argued that giving the president unfettered power to impose tariffs could harm US citizens. Trump had delayed the bill for months, seeking greater flexibility in negotiations with Putin. In September, special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, traveled to Moscow and Kyiv. Witkoff indicated the U.S. was confident that trilateral talks would lead to a "good resolution" of the Ukraine war following a weekend-long ceasefire. However, hostilities have since resumed, with Russia striking targets in Kyiv and other major cities earlier this week. Ukrainian officials reported over 20 injuries from these attacks. The bill also extends sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors, maintaining pressure on the country despite previous attempts to ease restrictions. Iranian officials have criticized the move as "economic terrorism." The legislation marks a significant escalation in US policy toward both Russia and Iran, reflecting bipartisan consensus on the need to counter Russian aggression and limit Iran’s influence. The implementation of the law is expected to have far-reaching implications for international trade and diplomatic relations.