The WSJ Revealed Details Of The Proposed New U.S. Sanctions Against Russia
- 14.07.2026, 21:27
Lindsey Graham's bill calls for measures against the five largest buyers of oil and gas from Russia.
The bill, drafted by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, calls for measures against the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, primarily China and India, according to The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources familiar with the situation.
According to the publication’s sources, Trump may impose tariffs of up to 100% on certain countries and individuals facilitating the sale of energy resources.
In addition, the bill includes provisions for sanctions against Russian defense, energy, and financial entities, as well as the shadow fleet.
Analysts interviewed by the publication note that if the bill is passed, it will mark the first time the U.S. Congress has authorized the use of tariffs as a geopolitical weapon—previously, they were used as a tool to combat unfair trade practices.
“We’ve been refining it over time during negotiations with the U.S. Trade Representative, as well as with colleagues from the White House. It was a very complex, painstaking, and lengthy process. “We don’t want an overly broad, heavy-handed approach,” Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who worked on the bill alongside Graham, told reporters.
Senators from both parties and the White House spent more than a year refining the bill, which originally called for imposing 500 percent tariffs on goods from any country purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products.
However, the White House did not want Congress to impose such sanctions, preferring to give Trump maximum flexibility in his efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, the WSJ notes.
Sources said that the current version is a compromise that has garnered support from Republicans, Democrats, and the White House. The current draft also provides Trump with support in the event of a confrontation with the Supreme Court, which this year has already rejected his invocation of emergency powers to impose unilateral tariffs.
Trump’s team says the president supports the bill, which they want to pass in memory of Graham. He died on July 11 at the age of 71.