US lawmakers spar over bill giving Trump more power to sanction Russia

Key Points:

• A bill co-authored by the late Senator Lindsey Graham seeks to grant former President Trump broad authority to impose tariffs on Russia and its trading partners, aiming to increase economic pressure amid Russia’s war against Ukraine.
• The legislation faces opposition from both Ukraine-skeptic Republicans and prominent Democrats who argue it would give Trump excessive tariff powers that could be abused and harm US allies, potentially raising American prices and undermining long-term support for Ukraine.
• The bill, named the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, targets Russia’s energy and defense sectors and allows 100% tariffs on major Russian oil purchasers like China and India, but Democrats are negotiating amendments to limit affected countries.
• Ukrainian officials, including President Zelenskyy and Minister Vitaly Kim, have urged the US to pass the bill to increase economic pressure on Russia, viewing sanctions as a critical strategy to end the war quickly.
• The bill’s passage depends on Democratic support due to opposition from isolationist Republicans, leading to internal party disputes, with some Democrats expressing concerns about empowering Trump and increasing costs for American families.