Axios: The U.S. Is Preparing To Vote On "severe Sanctions" Against Russia

• 24.07.2026, 10:59

As early as next week.

The U.S. Senate may vote as early as next week on a package of sanctions against Russia that was initiated during his lifetime by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, according to Axios.

According to the source, Democrats have signaled to their Republican colleagues that they are prepared to support the bill, which President Trump demanded at the last minute include Iran as well.

As the publication notes, the passage of the bill would be a rare example of bipartisan agreement in the Senate, which has spent much of the year embroiled in political clashes.

It would also demonstrate that Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are capable of reaching an agreement just a few weeks before the election—and this is of considerable importance, as the Senate needs to avoid a third government shutdown this year.

It has been reported that Tuesday’s memorial service at the Capitol honoring Senator Lindsey Graham will provide an emotional backdrop for the vote on the bill he was trying to bring to a close in the final days of his life.

“I am optimistic about the future—I think we will be able to break the deadlock in the near future. Ukraine has the initiative on the battlefield, and the Kremlin’s position is becoming increasingly precarious. It is extremely important for us to act as quickly as possible,” said Senator Jean Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The bill, which has already been signed by more than 60 senators, was revised twice following Graham’s sudden death on July 11. First, the secondary tariff rate was lowered from 500% to 100%, and the bill’s scope was limited—now Trump will be able to impose tariffs on no more than five countries. Subsequently, on July 19, the U.S. president requested that the bill be expanded to include Iran. The senators, in turn, took this into account, according to the report.