The Senate has approved one of its most significant foreign policy measures of the year after days of closed-door negotiations and debate over how aggressively the United States should respond to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The legislation drew overwhelming bipartisan support, but not before lawmakers fought over key provisions that could affect America’s trading partners and the president’s authority.
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The Senate voted 86-11 on Friday to approve bipartisan legislation imposing tougher sanctions on Russia, the largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas, and extending existing sanctions on Iran, in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who had been pushing the measure before his untimely death.
The vote also carried added emotional weight for many senators, coming just weeks after the death of one of the bill’s leading champions.
Supporters described the legislation as both a message to America’s adversaries abroad and a tribute to a longtime colleague whose final legislative priority had been to see the measure become law.
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Graham died suddenly earlier this month after a trip to Ukraine.
Lawmakers spent much of the week negotiating behind the scenes over proposed amendments before bringing the legislation to the floor for a final vote.
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If enacted, the measure would impose significantly tougher sanctions on Russia and the five largest buyers of Russian energy products while also extending sanctions on Iran that were scheduled to expire later this year.
According to lawmakers, the Iran provision was added at the request of President Donald Trump to prevent longstanding sanctions from lapsing.
One of the most contentious provisions involved language authorizing the executive branch to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., sought to remove that authority, arguing Congress should not expand presidential tariff powers.
Paul offered an amendment striking the tariff language from the bill.
The amendment failed by a vote of 32-64, clearing the way for final passage.
Supporters argued the legislation is intended to further pressure Russia economically as its war against Ukraine continues.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the bill’s lead Democratic sponsor, called the legislation a major bipartisan achievement while recalling one of his final conversations with Graham.
“As he said to me in some of his last words, this is a big f’ing deal. We all did good,” Blumenthal said.
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“A bipartisan team achieved this overwhelming 86-11 vote. President Zelensky is watching in Ukraine. President Putin is watching in Moscow.”
Blumenthal also delivered a direct message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Today we send a message to Vladimir Putin: You will not win this war. Time to come to the table for peace,” he said. “Your economy, already on its heels, is going to be throttled, even decimated by cutting off the flow of revenue from Russian oil and gas.”
The legislation gained momentum after many senators met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following Graham’s funeral last month.
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According to lawmakers, Zelensky urged Congress to continue supporting Ukraine with both military assistance and stronger economic pressure on Russia.
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said the legislation sends an important signal but argued the next step ultimately rests with President Trump.
“Zelensky’s been clear with us; they’re steadily running out of interceptors,” Coons said.
“And what really matters is not this bill; it’s what does Donald Trump do with it? Will President Trump finally actually take the side of the country that is aligned with our values and our interests and our priorities against the country that isn’t?”
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Although Democrats broadly supported additional sanctions on Russia, some voiced concerns about granting the president broader tariff authority.
“We’ve seen the ways in which he illegally uses the authorities he has,” Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said before the vote, The Hill reported.
Warnock later withdrew his proposed amendment after receiving a written commitment from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer outlining guardrails on the administration’s use of the tariff authority.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
