On Tuesday, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia and extend penalties on Iran, advancing the long‑stalled legislation originally championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
The vote tally was 86‑12, with every Republican and a majority of Democrats supporting the measure, exceeding the 60‑vote threshold required to proceed to a final vote.
The vote occurred shortly after the late Senator Graham, who died suddenly earlier this month, was honored in ceremonies at the Capitol and Washington National Cathedral, and after senators met with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to commemorate his dedication to supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression.
President Zelensky observed from the Senate gallery as senators entered to cast their ballots, waving and smiling.
Senators designated the legislation in honor of Mr. Graham, who spent his final hours in Ukraine working to solidify its objectives.
Senator Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi and chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said that the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill would advance the cause of freedom and combat Vladimir Putin’s war machine, targeting Putin, his inner circle, and the shadow fleet that evades sanctions, penalizing those who purchase Russian oil and gas, and addressing China’s investments in Russian weapons production, while preserving sanctions pressure on Iran, thereby saving human lives.
In a pre‑vote meeting with senators, President Zelensky expressed gratitude for their continued support of Ukraine as the conflict approaches its fourth and a half year mark. He later sat with Senator Wicker and Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the Senate’s second‑ranking Republican, observing the Senate’s progress on the bill.
Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader from New York, said that President Zelensky has reiterated that Ukraine is turning the tide and gaining momentum daily, and that we are witnessing this firsthand. He added that Lindsey Graham devoted his final days to helping Ukraine achieve victory, and that we should do the same in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
The legislation would impose stringent new penalties on nations that purchase oil and other energy products from Russia, and would extend existing sanctions on Iran to curb its capacity to fund its wartime economy.
The bill still requires Senate approval and House passage before reaching the president’s desk. Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump have indicated their support.
The Senate vote removed a major obstacle and cemented a bipartisan compromise that had eluded Mr. Graham for over a year amid initial resistance from President Trump, who was wary of congressional directives, as well as from members of both parties — Republicans opposed to limiting the president’s authority and Democrats wary of granting him excessive power.
During recent negotiations, certain Democrats opposed the bill, arguing that it would grant President Trump new authority to impose tariffs, a power he has already exercised beyond congressional trade authority. The revised version would require the president to impose the sanctions — though he could waive them upon certification of a national security necessity — and mandate regular administration reports to Congress on the implementation of the penalties.
Many Democrats, despite their strong support for Ukraine, said they could not vote to give the president additional tariff authority; they joined Republicans in voting against the measure.
Proponents said they revised the bill’s secondary tariff provisions to exempt U.S. allies that still purchase limited quantities of oil, gas, or other energy from Russia, provided they demonstrate a clear reduction in reliance on Russian‑produced energy.
