By Blessing Nweke
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is renewing its push for sweeping sanctions against Russia following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, with lawmakers describing the legislation as a lasting part of his legacy and a key step in supporting Ukraine.
The revised sanctions bill, unveiled Tuesday, is designed to reduce Russia’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine by imposing tariffs on countries that continue purchasing large amounts of Russian oil and natural gas. The updated proposal narrows its scope to the world’s five largest buyers of Russian energy, including China and India, while reducing proposed tariffs from a blanket 500% to a maximum of 100%.
The legislation also provides exemptions for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are actively reducing those purchases. In addition, it targets Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior political and military officials, financial institutions, energy projects, and older oil tankers used to evade existing sanctions.
Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, had spent more than a year working alongside Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal to build bipartisan support for the measure. Before his death, Graham had returned from Ukraine and discussed the bill with President Donald Trump after making progress in negotiations with the White House.
Blumenthal said naming the legislation after Graham would honor his dedication, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged an immediate vote, saying the bill would pass overwhelmingly.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he hopes lawmakers can move the proposal forward with bipartisan backing. More than two dozen senators have already signed on, with supporters expressing confidence that the measure has enough votes to advance in the Senate.
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