The 48‑page legislation, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was passed by the House earlier this week and now grants the president broad powers to punish countries that buy Russian energy, while carving out exceptions for nations that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are actively reducing that dependence.
In addition to targeting Russia’s energy trade, the bill extends sanctions to Iran’s energy and weapons sectors, and imposes penalties on Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior officials, banks, and the so‑called “shadow fleet” of tankers that have been used to evade existing restrictions.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from New York, called the measure “scorching sanctions” that would “throttle Putin’s war machine,” underscoring bipartisan support for a tougher stance on Moscow.
Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) show that between December 2022 and August 2026, China accounted for 50% of Russian crude exports and India for 37%, making them the primary targets of the new tariffs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the law on social media, thanking Trump for signing what he described as “critically important legislation” and urging swift implementation to honor Senator Graham’s legacy.
The bill also includes provisions aimed at curbing Russia’s financial networks, sanctioning banks and other institutions that facilitate the flow of funds for its energy exports, and targeting vessels that help circumvent sanctions.