The U.S. Senate approved harsh sanctions against Russia and Iran — Reuters
The U.S. Senate has approved a sweeping bill imposing new sanctions against Russia and Iran. The bill passed with 68 votes in favor and nine against, and will now be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The U.S. Senate has taken an important step toward imposing new, tough sanctions against Russia and Iran. U.S. lawmakers approved the bill by an overwhelming majority, a move that could significantly increase economic pressure on Moscow. During the vote, 68 senators supported the bill, while nine opposed it. The bill is titled the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions Against Russia and Iran Act of 2026.”
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives. It is there that the bill must undergo the next stage of consideration before it can be finally adopted. In other words, the Senate’s decision does not yet mean that the new sanctions have taken effect. It must first be considered by the House of Representatives, and then the bill must go through all the procedures required by U.S. law.
What the “hellish sanctions” entail
The bill calls for a massive escalation of sanctions pressure on Russia. Its supporters expect that the new restrictions could inflict more serious damage on the Russian economy and make it harder for the Kremlin to generate revenue from international trade. The bill places particular emphasis on the Russian energy sector. Revenues from the sale of oil and other energy resources remain one of the main sources of funding for the Russian budget, including expenditures for the war against Ukraine.
Therefore, sanctions that could limit Russia’s ability to sell energy resources on global markets are of particular importance to Moscow. If the bill is passed, Washington will gain additional tools to exert pressure on the Russian economy. At the same time, the sanctions do not apply only to Russia. The bill also provides for restrictions against Iran, which remains one of Moscow’s key partners and is subject to extensive U.S. sanctions.
Why the bill is called “hellish”
The bill earned the unofficial nickname “hellish sanctions” due to its potentially very severe consequences for Russia. In the U.S., it is viewed as one of the possible ways to force Moscow to pay a higher economic price for continuing the war against Ukraine. The initiative is linked to Senator Lindsey Graham, who has long advocated for increasing pressure on Russia. The bill was named after him after it was introduced in the Senate.
If the bill passes the House of Representatives, it could pave the way for a new, large-scale package of U.S. sanctions. At the same time, the specific timing of when the restrictions take effect will depend on the bill’s further progress and the final decision by U.S. authorities.
When might the new sanctions be imposed?
Ukraine expects that the U.S. may move to impose a new package of sanctions as early as the fall of 2026. Specifically, there is talk of the possibility of adopting such measures in September. Ukrainian authorities anticipate that U.S. restrictions may prove to be stricter than a number of sanctions already in effect in the European Union. At the same time, the final scope of the future measures will only become clear after the legislative process in the U.S. is completed.
For Kyiv, it is not only the tightening of U.S. sanctions that matters, but also the potential impact on Ukraine’s other partners. If Washington takes a new step against Russia, this could put additional pressure on European states and G7 countries.
What Ukraine Expects
Ukrainian authorities believe that the passage of the U.S. bill could serve as a signal to other countries. This refers to the possibility of a coordinated tightening of sanctions by Ukraine’s allies. Among the possible next steps is a new, 22nd package of sanctions from the European Union. It is also expected that G7 countries may expand their own restrictions against Russia.
In addition, other states that support Ukraine and oppose Russian aggression may join the sanctions effort. In that case, Moscow could face not just a single U.S. decision, but a broader wave of new restrictions. For Russia, this would mean additional difficulties in accessing international markets, technology, finance, and export revenues. The oil sector remains particularly important, as it is the sale of energy resources that provides significant revenue to the Russian budget.
Thus, the Senate vote was just one step toward a potential new blow to the Russian economy. The bill must now pass the U.S. House of Representatives. If the U.S. Congress ultimately approves the bill, Russia could face one of the toughest sanction packages since the start of the full-scale war, according to Reuters.
On Friday, August 7, the European Union approved new sanctions lists targeting Russia in response to the Russian Federation’s recent massive strikes on Ukraine.
