US Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill With 86-11 Vote, India and China Face 100% Tariff Threat Over Russian Oil

The US Senate on Friday overwhelmingly passed a sweeping Russia sanctions package by a margin of 86-11, legislation that could directly hit India through new tariff powers targeting the world's top buyers of Russian oil and gas. The bill, the result of a yearlong campaign by the late Senator Lindsey Graham to reinforce US support for Ukraine and pressure President Vladimir Putin, comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Capitol last week following Graham's funeral, meeting senators from both parties and watching from the gallery as the Senate took its first procedural votes on the bill.

What The Bill Means For India

The bipartisan package allows the US president to impose tariffs on the world's top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, a list that includes both China and India. The legislation does provide exceptions for countries that import less than 15 percent of their natural gas from Russia and are taking steps to reduce those imports. Who Is Abdul El-Sayed? Democrat Eyes History After Michigan Senate Primary Victory.

The bill also allows the White House to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest, giving the administration some flexibility in how the tariff authority is applied to major trading partners like India.

Sanctions On Putin And Russian Institutions

Beyond the tariff provisions, the legislation includes direct sanctions on Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, Russian financial institutions, and Russian energy projects. It would also expand US sanctions to target older, reflagged oil tankers that Russia uses to circumvent existing sanctions on its oil and energy revenues. 'Made My Job More Difficult': Donald Trump Blasts US Senate After Resolution to Limit His Iran War Powers.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat from Connecticut, who worked with Graham on the package, said, "Today, President Zelenskyy is watching from Ukraine - and Putin is watching from Moscow." He added, "I would like to think Lindsey Graham is watching, too. Today we say to the people of Ukraine: You are not alone. And today we say to Vladimir Putin: You will not conquer Ukraine."

Democrats Split Over Tariff Authority

Democrats and some Republicans have been wary of giving President Donald Trump broad authority to impose tariffs on imports, citing concerns about inflationary costs for Americans. Those who voted against the final package were mostly progressive Democrats.

The Senate defeated an amendment by Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon that would have stripped the new tariff authority from the bill. Wyden said, "We've got folks who are walking an economic tightrope here in America."

Senator Raphael Warnock, Democrat from Georgia, who had held up passage of the package over the tariff authority, said he received a written commitment from the Trump administration through US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer ensuring guardrails, with tariffs to be lifted once countries are no longer purchasing Russian oil and gas or helping evade sanctions.

Next Steps In The House

The Senate momentum now puts pressure on the House to act when lawmakers return to session at the end of August. Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the bill as written gives Trump too much authority to weaponize tariffs in ways that could hurt Americans without effectively deterring Russia.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha thanked the Senate for the package, saying US support is "bringing a lasting peace closer."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2026 07:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).