US House Passes Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill, Giving Trump Power To Target Oil Buyers

The US House of Representatives has passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill by 262 votes to 159, after the Senate approved it 86-11. The legislation targets Russia’s energy and defence sectors, senior officials and its so-called shadow fleet, while giving President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that continue buying Russian oil and gas. China and India could face pressure because they are major buyers of Russian energy, although the tariffs would depend on decisions by Trump rather than taking effect automatically. The bill also extends sanctions on Iran and now awaits Trump’s signature, which he has said he will provide.

HOUSE PASSES TOUGH NEW RUSSIA SANCTIONS

The US House of Representatives has passed a sweeping package of sanctions aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia over its continuing war in Ukraine.
The bill, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, passed by 262 votes to 159 on Wednesday, September 16.
It now goes to President Donald Trump, who has said he intends to sign it into law. The Senate had already approved the legislation by an 86-11 vote in August.
The legislation represents one of the most significant Russia-related sanctions measures passed by Congress since Trump returned to the White House.

BILL TARGETS RUSSIA'S ENERGY AND DEFENCE SECTORS

The package would impose additional sanctions on Russia's energy and defence sectors, Russian officials, financial institutions and other individuals and organisations linked to the country's war effort.
It also targets Russia's so-called shadow fleet — a network of ageing oil tankers that Western governments say Moscow uses to transport Russian oil while avoiding existing sanctions and restrictions.
The measure is designed to make it more difficult for Russia to earn revenue from its energy exports and use those revenues to finance its military operations.

TRUMP COULD IMPOSE TARIFFS ON RUSSIAN OIL BUYERS

One of the most significant provisions gives President Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major buyers or facilitators of Russian oil and gas.
This means the legislation does not automatically impose a 100 per cent tariff on countries such as India or China. Instead, it gives the president the authority to impose such measures if he chooses to use the powers provided by the law.
China and India are expected to be among the countries most exposed because of their continued purchases of Russian energy.
The provision could therefore extend the consequences of Washington's Russia sanctions beyond Moscow and place pressure on countries that continue significant energy trade with Russia.

CHINA AND INDIA COULD FACE PRESSURE

China and India have remained major buyers of Russian oil despite Western sanctions imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The new legislation seeks to use access to the US market as additional leverage by allowing the president to impose tariffs on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy.
However, whether Trump actually uses the authority, against which countries and at what level will depend on decisions by his administration.
The legislation also contains provisions and exemptions that could affect how the tariff authority is applied.

IRAN ALSO INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATION

The legislation is not limited to Russia.
It also extends existing US sanctions authority against Iran for another five years, targeting restrictions connected to Iran's energy and weapons sectors.
The inclusion of Iran became an important part of the legislation during negotiations, reflecting the Trump administration's broader approach to economic pressure against countries it considers threats to US interests.

BILL NAMED AFTER LATE SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM

The legislation was originally championed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who spent more than a year working on the sanctions package.
Graham died suddenly in July, and Congress subsequently renamed the legislation in his honour.
The bill was initially introduced in April 2025, but its progress was delayed for months as disagreements continued over the balance of power between Congress and the White House on tariffs and sanctions.

TRUMP HAD PREVIOUSLY DELAYED THE BILL

Trump's position has been important to the legislation's long journey through Congress.
The president had previously delayed the bill as his administration sought to retain greater control over US tariff and sanctions policy rather than allowing Congress to determine when and how such measures should be used.
The House vote now sends the legislation directly to Trump's desk, and the president has indicated that he will sign it.

DEMOCRATS SPLIT OVER TRUMP'S NEW POWERS

Although the bill received substantial bipartisan support, it also exposed disagreements within both major US political parties.
Some Democrats voted for the legislation, while Democratic leaders criticised provisions that they said would give Trump excessive authority to impose tariffs.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries argued that the legislation could give Trump broad power to impose tariffs with consequences for American consumers.
Some Republicans also opposed the bill, expressing concern that additional tariffs could contribute to higher consumer prices, particularly with US midterm elections approaching in November.
The House ultimately approved the measure with 58 Democrats joining most Republicans in support. Seven Republicans voted against it.

UKRAINE WELCOMES THE LEGISLATION

Ukraine has strongly supported the sanctions package as Kyiv continues to seek greater international pressure on Moscow.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US lawmakers to encourage passage of the legislation and watched an earlier procedural vote from the chamber.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly argued that stronger economic pressure on Russia could reduce the resources available to sustain the war.
Supporters of the bill in Congress have similarly presented the sanctions as a tool for increasing pressure on Moscow and encouraging negotiations over the conflict.

SANCTIONS COME AS WAR CONTINUES

The congressional action comes as Russia's war against Ukraine continues, with both countries conducting long-range missile and drone attacks.
The United States and its European allies have imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Russia since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Those measures have targeted Russian banks, energy companies, individuals, technology imports and other parts of the economy.
The latest legislation would add another layer of restrictions while also attempting to discourage other countries from helping Russia circumvent existing sanctions.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The bill has passed both chambers of Congress and is now awaiting Trump's signature.
If Trump signs it, the legislation will become law and give his administration new tools to target Russia and countries that continue significant trade in Russian oil and gas.
The immediate focus will then shift to how the White House uses those powers.
The potential for tariffs of up to 100 per cent against major Russian energy buyers could also have consequences for international trade and relations between Washington and countries such as China and India.
For Ukraine, the legislation represents another attempt to increase the economic cost of Russia's war. For Russia and its trading partners, however, its implementation could create new pressure on energy sales, international trade and diplomatic relations.