Trump Signs Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill

By Reuters Sep. 19, 2026 Donald Trump. Saul Loeb / AFP U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill into law, the White House said in a statement, paving the way for increased economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The measures target Russia's energy and defense industries, as well as its "shadow fleet" of tankers that evade existing sanctions, in order to deprive Moscow of funds used to pay for its war with Ukraine. The legislation faced opposition from Democrats because it also authorizes Trump to impose stiff tariffs of up to 100% on China, India and other countries to reduce their dependence ​on Russian oil and gas, as well as to extend sanctions on Iran. Critics argue that Trump already has the authority he needs to impose sanctions on Russia, but has chosen not to do so. The bill, now called the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," to honor the South Carolina Republican who died in July, passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday and the Senate last month. Graham, a longtime Russia hawk, was a staunch backer of the legislation. The Kremlin said earlier this week that further U.S. sanctions against Russia would make it harder to reach a peace deal in Ukraine. "We are, of course, monitoring the progress of this bill. It falls under the category of unfriendly actions, and of course the imposition of any additional sanctions by the U.S. would certainly complicate efforts to find a peace settlement in Ukraine," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Read more about: United States , Sanctions , Trump Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more China Pledges Closer Ties With Russia After Trump’s Sanctions Threat Xi said both nations must implement the "key agreements" reached during his recent talks with President Vladimir Putin. 2 Min read Trump Threatens Sweeping Sanctions Against Russia Over Attacks on Ukraine The U.S. president said he was "strongly considering" sanctions on Russia's banking sector and tariffs until a ceasefire was reached. 2 Min read Trump Extends U.S. Sanctions Against Russia Over Crimea Due to expire on March 6, the travel bans and asset freezes have been extended into the spring of 2020. Top U.S. Security Adviser Accused of Discussing Sanctions with Moscow Before Trump Inauguration - Reports A top security official has been accused of revealing potential U.S. policy changes to Moscow before the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.