Senators introduce revised Russia sanctions bill to honor Graham
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Sen. Richard Blumenthal listens as Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 30, 2025. Photo: Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP via Getty Images
A bipartisan group of senators is unveiling a revised Russia sanctions bill that the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) helped finalize in one of his last efforts to broker a compromise and end the war in Ukraine.
Why it matters: If enacted, the bill would ratchet up pressure on Vladimir Putin by imposing 100% tariffs on the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas — likely including China and India.
- During a trip to Ankara, Turkey, last week, Graham helped broker a compromise with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that won the administration's support, according to the bill's backers.
- Trump stopped short of a full-throated endorsement Wednesday, but said: "There's a good chance it gets done."
- "We're looking at that. We're seriously thinking — this is in honor of Lindsey. He wanted this more than any other thing," Trump told reporters.
Driving the news: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will introduce the updated bill, which now has 26 cosponsors, equally divided between Democrats and Republicans, on Tuesday afternoon.
- "When Senator Graham and I last spoke, he was absolutely exultant, calling from Kyiv with news that President Trump would support this bill to impose scorching tariffs and sanctions on purchasers of Russian oil and stop them from fueling Putin's war machine," Blumenthal said in a statement.
- "Now is the time to push Russia toward peace."
The big picture: Last summer, the Senate came close to advancing Russia sanctions, but when passage appeared imminent, Trump urged Republicans to hold off so as not to constrain his efforts to negotiate an end to the war.
- The revised bill reflects the compromise Graham negotiated with the administration.
- It lowers the proposed tariff on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas from 500% to 100%.
- It gives the president waiver authority while requiring the administration to certify any waivers to Congress.
What they're saying: "One of the many pillars of Senator Graham's exemplary career of public service was his dedication to putting America's national security first and promoting liberty around the world," Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said.
- "It is an honor to help champion one of his highest priorities: imposing crushing sanctions to cripple Russia's war machine and hold those fueling it accountable."
- "This legislation would level tough new sanctions on Russia and choke off key export markets for the energy it sells to fund its war machine," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said. "We must seize the opportunity before us to finally exert economic pressure on the Kremlin and bring this war to a close."
