On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate, by a majority vote of 86 to 12, overcame a procedural hurdle in considering the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, named after the recently deceased Republican senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, reports the New York Post. The vote took place just hours after a memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral. ### "Even in death, he continues to influence politics" Speaking before the vote, Senator Katie Britt stated that Graham seemed to have organized the consideration of the bill himself. > "Today, many of us were at his funeral, and in typical Lindsey fashion, he somehow managed to organize a vote on the future of Ukraine," she said. According to her, although Graham is no longer present in the Senate, his influence is still felt. ### New Sanctions Against Russia and Iran The document provides for the expansion of sanctions against Russia and Iran. In particular, it proposes to impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russian officials, banks, oligarchs, their family members, companies, as well as against the so-called "shadow fleet" of Russia. Additionally, the bill grants U.S. President Donald Trump the authority to impose targeted tariffs on imports from countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas or help Moscow circumvent existing sanctions. As the authors of the initiative note, this primarily concerns the largest importers of Russian energy resources. ### Authors Specifically Mentioned China and India Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal stated that the bill should serve as a signal to Vladimir Putin. > "Your days of war are numbered. It’s better to come to the negotiating table now than to continue losing people, money, and destroying your own economy," he said. According to Blumenthal, the main buyers of Russian oil and gas today remain **China and India**, which, in his opinion, are effectively financing the Russian war machine. ### Lindsey Graham's Final Initiative The bill was introduced last year by Lindsey Graham himself, but its consideration had been delayed for a long time as President Donald Trump sought a diplomatic resolution to the war between Russia and Ukraine. A day before his death, on July 10, Graham announced that he had reached an agreement with the White House to advance the bill and expressed confidence that the document would become law. The senator called it "the most important legislative initiative" of his political career. ### Zelensky Thanked Senators Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived in Washington for Lindsey Graham's funeral, met with Donald Trump at the White House, as well as with senators on Capitol Hill. He called the bill extremely important. > "The sanctioning pressure on Russia is of immense significance. It is a powerful signal to Europe, Ukraine, and support for our people," the Ukrainian leader stated. During the vote, Zelensky watched from the Senate's guest gallery and applauded lawmakers after the procedural decision was made. The document is set to undergo a final vote in the Senate, followed by consideration in the House of Representatives, after which it may be sent to the U.S. President for signing.