Trump Enacts Comprehensive Sanctions Against Russia Over Ukraine
WHO:
ABC News - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Trump for signing the sanctions bill, calling it "critically important legislation."
NY Post - President Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.
aljazeera.com - The bill was co-written by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal.
aljazeera.com - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lobbied lawmakers ahead of the vote.
aljazeera.com - House Speaker Mike Johnson supported the bill.
aljazeera.com - House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the bill.
WHAT:
BBC News - The bill allows for primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and other countries that support Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine.
BBC News - The House passed the bill by a vote of 262 to 159, with 58 Democrats voting in favor and 152 against.
aljazeera.com - The legislation targets Russian oil and gas exports and extends sanctions against Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
aljazeera.com - The bill allows tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas.
aljazeera.com - The bill sanctions Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior officials, oligarchs, and Russian banks and financial institutions.
aljazeera.com - The bill passed the Senate and House with bipartisan support, including 58 Democrats crossing party lines.
WHERE:
aljazeera.com - The bill was sent to the White House after passing Congress.
WHEN:
aljazeera.com - The bill was signed into law on a Friday.
aljazeera.com - The bill passed the Senate last month and the House on Wednesday.
WHY:
ABC News - Zelenskyy emphasized that the best way to honor Lindsey Graham's memory would be to implement the provisions of the law fully and swiftly.
aljazeera.com - Supporters aim to starve the Kremlin of funds sustaining its war effort and push Putin towards negotiations.
aljazeera.com - Hakeem Jeffries warned that the tariff powers would raise costs for American families.
HOW:
BBC News - The legislation includes a provision to prevent a lapse in sanction authority that restricts funding for Iran's energy and weapons sectors.
aljazeera.com - The bill gives Trump authority to impose tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, specifically targeting China and India.
(UPDATED September 19, 2026 09:57 UTC)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Trump for signing a sanctions bill that he described as "critically important legislation." The House passed the bill with a vote of 262 to 159, which allows for primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and other nations supporting Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, with 58 Democrats voting in favor. Zelenskyy highlighted that fully and swiftly implementing the law's provisions would be the best way to honor Lindsey Graham's memory, and the legislation also includes measures to prevent a lapse in sanction authority against Iran's energy and weapons sectors.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 07:04 UTC)
President Trump has signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which aims to cut off funding for the Kremlin's war efforts by targeting Russian oil and gas exports and extending sanctions against Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. The legislation, co-written by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and supported by House Speaker Mike Johnson, allows for tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, specifically targeting countries like China and India. Despite bipartisan support in Congress, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries raised concerns that these tariff powers could lead to increased costs for American families.