US Senate Unveils Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill After Securing Trump’s Backing

A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced sanctions package targeting Russia, with lawmakers expressing confidence that the legislation could advance before Congress begins its August recess.

According to CNN on July 15, the bill was formally unveiled after months of negotiations involving lawmakers from both parties and the White House. The legislation was one of the final initiatives championed by late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who announced shortly before his death that an agreement had been reached with the Trump administration to move it forward.

If adopted, the more than 60-page bill would require sanctions against Russian political and military leaders, including Russian leader Vladimir Putin, as well as state-owned enterprises, oligarchs, financial institutions, energy projects, companies supporting Russia’s defense industry, and vessels linked to Moscow’s shadow fleet.

The legislation also proposes tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the five largest purchasers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, including China and India. According to CNN, countries importing less than 15% of Russia’s total natural gas exports could qualify for exemptions if they are taking significant steps to reduce those imports.

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One Senate aide told CNN that the legislation was designed to focus specifically on Russia’s energy revenues, noting that “the vast majority of Russia’s income, particularly used toward its war of aggression in Ukraine, is made up from its exports of Russian oil and gas,” and that the bill had been “narrowly tailored… to very much focus on that aspect of the Russian economy.”

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, one of the bill’s principal sponsors, said he believes the measure could pass “before August.” “This bill has been negotiated over almost two years, painstakingly, sometimes painfully, at great length,” Blumenthal said.

According to CNN, the legislation currently has more than two dozen co-sponsors, with additional senators continuing to join the effort. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to bring the measure forward once sufficient support has been secured.

President Donald Trump said on July 15 that the bill has “a good chance” of passing, while suggesting it could be expanded to include additional sanctions targeting Iran and Hezbollah.

Blumenthal, however, urged lawmakers to keep the legislation unchanged.

“With all due respect to the President, he has approved this bill, and we should move forward with this bill, rather than opening it to, in my view, to other potential targets,” he told reporters.

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