U.S. President Donald Trump signed comprehensive legislation on Friday to expand sanctions on Russia, giving him the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas in a move aimed at increasing economic pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
Targeting energy, defense and oil tankers
The White House said in a statement that the legislation targets Russia’s energy and defense sectors, as well as the “shadow fleet,” which includes oil tankers that it said “evade” existing sanctions, with the aim of limiting funds used to finance the war.
The tariffs could apply to major buyers of Russian energy, including China and India. The law allows the tariffs to remain in place for extended periods, including after Trump’s term ends.
Legislation passes Congress
The House of Representatives passed the bill on Wednesday after the Senate approved it in August. The legislation is named the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” in honor of the Republican senator from South Carolina, who died in July and was one of the legislation’s leading supporters and Russia’s most vocal critics.
Concerns over spillover effects on Russia’s partners
The signing comes as dialogue between Washington, Kyiv and Moscow has resumed, following visits by Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to the Russian and Ukrainian capitals.
Critics said the legislation, which also imposes tariffs on Russia’s biggest trading partners, could create problems for other countries if future Trump trade decisions were to include them.
