Trump Signs anti-Russia Lindsey Graham Sanctions

President Donald J. Trump signed significant legislation targeting Russia with new sanctions and tariff measures on September 18, the White House announced.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 expands sanctions and other restrictions targeting Russia while extending the Iran Sanctions Act for another five years. The Trump administration had formally backed the legislation before its passage.

The 500% tariff on Russian goods can certainly break Russian businesses and hopefully compel the people to force change in the Kremlin. Trump’s signature also signals a change of heart about his attitude toward Putin.

Among the legislation’s provisions, the law requires the President, no later than 30 days after enactment, to impose duties of up to 100% on goods imported from foreign countries that meet specified criteria. 

These include countries that knowingly make new purchases of Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas on or after 30 days after enactment and were among the five largest importers, by volume, of Russian crude oil or natural gas during the preceding 12-month period. The provision also covers the top five countries facilitating Russian oil-sanctions evasion during that period.

The law authorizes the President to waive the duties, sanctions or restrictions after submitting to Congress a written national-interest certification and a report explaining the basis for the waiver. It also requires the president, within 30 days of enactment, to impose duties of up to 500% on goods imported from Russia, subject to statutory exceptions. 

In addition, it expands sanctions targeting Russian officials, financial institutions, state-controlled or affiliated entities, energy-sector actors, vessels involved in sanctions evasion and other facilitators.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Trump's decision, thanking him as well as members of both chambers of Congress who backed the measure.

Zelenskyy recalled that Graham had repeatedly called for increasing economic pressure on Moscow, including by targeting purchases of Russian oil, financial services provided to Russia, and international business ties with Russian companies linked to the Kremlin and its war against Ukraine.

“The best way to honor Lindsey's memory will be the full and swift implementation of the provisions of this law,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that Graham had believed the United States had sufficient leverage to confront authoritarian governments if it acted decisively. “Peace comes through strength. Calm comes through security. And the best guarantee of security is resolve,”Zelenskyy said.