US President Donald Trump has signed into law a comprehensive sanctions package targeting Russian officials and key sectors of the economy, in a move designed to pressure Moscow over its ongoing war in Ukraine. The legislation, which had been in the works for over a year, passed with broad bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress.
The measure is the final legislative legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the president who died unexpectedly in July shortly after returning from a visit to Ukraine. His sister, Darline Graham, who was appointed to complete his Senate term, said in a statement: "I wish Lindsey were here to celebrate this historic day. I know he would be so proud. Lindsey believed this bill, which he worked on for well over a year, would help end the war through squeezing Putin economically and forcing his customers to re-evaluate their relationship with Russia."
Sanctions on banks, officials, and shadow fleet
The bill, co-drafted by Senator Richard Blumenthal, imposes sanctions on Russian banks, officials, and the so-called shadow fleet of tankers that Moscow uses to circumvent existing Western sanctions and keep its energy exports flowing. It also enables the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.
Blumenthal said of Graham: "If he were here today, he would be jubilant about our bill's passage — and already thinking about the next one." He added: "Putin is a thug who understands only force and strength, which is what we must show clearly and unequivocally."
The legislation passed the Senate 86-11 and the House 262-159, reflecting strong support from both parties. However, a vocal group of Democratic lawmakers opposed the bill, not because they favoured a softer line on Russia, but because they objected to the expanded tariff powers it grants the president. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries questioned the wisdom of giving Trump "unfettered authority to visit more tariffs on the world that will have an adverse economic impact on the American people."
The concern is that Trump could use these powers to impose tariffs on European Union member states and other allies that continue to purchase significant amounts of Russian energy. This has raised alarm in Brussels and other European capitals, where officials are already grappling with the EU's own sanctions renewal deadlock and the challenge of maintaining a united front against Moscow.
Graham's path to securing Trump's signature was not smooth. The White House had to be convinced that the president would retain sufficient flexibility on sanctions. Eventually, Trump gave his approval after the bill included a provision he had pushed for, extending sanctions on Iran for another five years.
The new law comes as European leaders are stepping up their own efforts to counter Russian aggression. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a G7 energy summit to address hybrid threats, and Canada has moved to join the EU's €90bn loan package for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian strikes continue to hit Kyiv and Kharkiv, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The sanctions package is expected to have significant implications for European energy markets and for countries that have maintained close energy ties with Russia. While the EU has already reduced its dependence on Russian gas, some member states, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, still rely on Russian supplies. The threat of US tariffs could accelerate efforts to diversify energy sources, but it also risks creating new frictions in transatlantic relations.
For now, the focus in Washington is on the bill's potential to squeeze Putin's war machine. But the broader geopolitical consequences, especially for Europe, are only beginning to unfold. As the EU debates its own sanctions renewal, the new US law adds another layer of complexity to an already fraught relationship with Moscow.
