The Senate voted to advance a sweeping Russia sanctions package this week, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy watching from the gallery after meetings on Capitol Hill. The show of bipartisanship came shortly after the funeral for the bill’s chief negotiator, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. According to the Associated Press, Zelenskyy met privately with senators beforehand and said Ukraine is making gains but still needs U.S. help; he then waved to lawmakers from the gallery as clerks announced the vote.
What’s in the bill? The Associated Press reports that the legislation would penalize countries that keep buying Russian oil and gas by empowering the president to levy tariffs on major purchasers of Russian energy, with limited exceptions for nations that rely on Russian natural gas for a relatively small portion of their supply and are moving to cut that dependence. It would also expand sanctions on Russian political and military leaders, financial institutions, and energy projects, and target what have been called Russia’s so‑called “shadow fleet” of older, reflagged tankers used to skirt existing restrictions. Negotiators included waiver authority so a president could temporarily lift certain measures if the White House certifies it is in the national interest, AP noted.
Axios adds several additional details: the proposal envisions a steep tariff on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas, the package has numerous co-sponsors, and the initial procedural vote was intended to speed the path to final passage. Axios also reported there was some Republican opposition. While backers celebrated the margin, Democrats have not been united on every provision; according to AP, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon criticized expanding tariff powers and said he plans to seek changes during floor debate.
The timing carried extra weight because of Graham’s role. AP reported that Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut announced a deal with the White House shortly before Graham’s death. Blumenthal later called the agreement significant, according to AP and Fox News’ live coverage. The Fox News live blog also noted that the Senate was preparing to move on Graham’s signature Russia sanctions effort as dignitaries gathered to honor him.
One late twist was Iran. After President Donald Trump asked senators to add Iran to the package, negotiators folded in an extension of certain Iran-related sanctions, AP reported. The Associated Press also said Zelenskyy met with the president earlier in the day. Supporters of the broader bill argue the combined measures could further squeeze the Kremlin’s war financing and deter governments that have kept buying Russian energy despite earlier rounds of sanctions.
What happens next? The vote cleared the way for amendment votes and a final passage push in the coming days. Axios reported that leaders hope the strong bipartisan margin could keep the process moving quickly, though tariff provisions are likely to draw more debate.
Why it matters
This package could widen U.S. pressure not just on Moscow, but also on countries that keep buying Russian oil and gas. Supporters say it could tighten the financial screws on Russia’s war machine; skeptics warn that granting broader tariff powers deserves careful scrutiny. For regular readers, the practical takeaway is that Congress is testing a tougher playbook on sanctions—and doing it with unusual bipartisan backing.