US Senate reaches bipartisan deal on Russia sanctions bill after Lindsey Graham's death

Senate Republicans and Democrats have struck a bipartisan deal on a new Russia sanctions bill co-authored by the late Lindsey Graham, according to Bloomberg. The two sides have finalized the bill's language, and a procedural vote is scheduled for July 28, coinciding with Graham's funeral. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington for the funeral and is expected to meet with senators during his visit.

The bill, formally titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, would empower the U.S. president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, and from the five countries that do the most to help Russia evade oil sanctions. It would also authorize duties of up to 500% on goods imported directly from Russia, ban imports of Russian uranium, and extend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 through 2031. The provisions would expire after five years.

The legislation was introduced in 2025 but stalled for a long time because former President Donald Trump had not taken a clear position on it. Trump had been demanding broader authority for himself both to tighten and to lift the restrictions. Following Graham's death, Trump pledged to support the measure.