US Senate passes broad Russia sanctions bill targeting energy revenues

The US Senate voted 86-11 on Tuesday to approve a sweeping sanctions package aimed at cutting into Russia's energy revenues. The bipartisan bill targets Russian officials and oligarchs, financial institutions, and the so-called shadow fleet — older, reflagged oil tankers Russia uses to dodge existing US sanctions on its oil and energy trade.

Under the legislation, President Donald Trump would gain authority to impose tariffs of up to 500% on Russian imports, including gas and oil. The bill would also let him penalise countries that keep buying Russian oil, gas and other exports, with tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major buyers such as China and India.

If signed into law, the sanctions would apply to Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, along with other senior officials. The measure also grants the president waiver authority, letting the White House suspend sanctions or restrictions if it certifies to Congress that doing so serves the national interest.

Next stop: the House

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, though a vote there is not expected before early September because of Congress's summer recess. The Senate's action is seen as the most significant step yet in Trump's second term to alter the course of a war that has now lasted more than four years. While Congress has struggled to keep US funding and munitions flowing to Ukraine, Trump has signalled support for the sanctions package, adding pressure on the House to advance it toward his signature.

The legislation is named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on 11 July after spending more than a year building support for it. Shortly before his death, Graham said he had reached agreement with the White House on a revised version of the bill, which also extends existing sanctions authority aimed at restricting funding for Iran's energy and weapons sectors.