The U.S. House of Representatives on September 16, 2026, passed a sweeping sanctions bill aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. This legislation, initially introduced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham nearly a year and a half ago, had previously passed the Senate in August with overwhelming bipartisan support, by a vote of 86-11. The bill is now poised to be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
Key provisions of the bill include authorizing the President to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that are among the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or gas, or those helping Moscow evade energy sanctions. This directly targets nations like China and India, which are major importers of Russian oil, and the European Union and Turkey, which import significant amounts of Russian natural gas. The U.S. believes that the revenue from these oil sales is crucial for funding Russia's war efforts.
Beyond tariffs, the legislation also mandates sanctions on Russian leaders, officials, and major financial institutions such as the Central Bank, Sberbank, and Gazprombank. It expands sanctions on Iran and targets foreign entities supporting Russia's defense-industrial base, major Russian energy projects, and Moscow's "shadow fleet" used for oil exports. The list of targeted countries for tariffs will be reviewed every 180 days, with potential exemptions for countries actively reducing their dependence on Russian natural gas.
The bill faced some resistance in the House, particularly from some Democrats who expressed concerns about granting broad tariff authority to President Trump, potentially allowing it to be used against U.S. allies. However, the bill ultimately advanced, passing a procedural vote on September 15 by a narrow 214-211 margin, with two Democrats, Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, crossing the aisle to vote in favor despite party leadership pressure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy actively lobbied U.S. lawmakers for their support of the measure.
