The U.S. Senate approved a significant bipartisan sanctions package on Friday, aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The bill, officially titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, passed with an 86-11 vote. The legislation seeks to penalize Russia through new sanctions and visa bans on President Vladimir Putin and senior military commanders, as well as by imposing tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods.

Beyond direct measures against Russia, the bill targets the top five international buyers of Russian oil and gas, potentially penalizing those nations for their energy trade. The legislation also extends existing sanctions currently in place against Iran. The bill serves as a tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who was a primary advocate for the measure before his death in July.

While the bill passed with broad bipartisan support, the 11 dissenting votes included 10 Democrats and Senator Rand Paul. Media outlets have provided varying context regarding the vote. The Washington Examiner highlighted the party affiliation of the dissenters, while The Guardian focused on the specific punitive measures against Russian leadership and the scale of the proposed tariffs. NDTV framed the bill as a significant shift in U.S. strategy during President Trump’s second term, noting the duration of the conflict in Ukraine.