Trump signs sweeping Russia sanctions over Ukraine war — SkimNews
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- Trump signed the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on Friday — the first major Ukraine-related bill to clear Congress in more than two years, passing with rare bipartisan support.
- The bill sanctions Putin, senior Russian officials, oligarchs, Russian banks, the country's energy and defense sectors, and Moscow's shadow fleet of oil tankers; it was co-written by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly in July, and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
- A key provision grants Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas — expected to fall hardest on China and India, the top two importers of Russian crude.
- The legislation separately extends sanctions on Iran's energy and weapons sectors, a second front buried beneath the Russia-focused headlines across other outlets.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the bill, warning the tariff powers would raise costs for American families and calling the sanctions provisions full of "loopholes"; 58 House Democrats nonetheless crossed party lines to back it.
- India said this week it "remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people" — a pointed response as it stares down the new tariff threat.
- The signing lands roughly a week before Trump is scheduled to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House, putting the 100% tariff authority over Chinese oil purchases directly into his negotiating toolkit.
Why it matters: India and China — the top two importers of Russian crude — now face a 100% tariff threat Trump can activate unilaterally, and the signing lands about a week before his White House summit with Xi, handing him leverage while putting direct energy-cost pressure on a country of 1.4 billion people.
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