The US Senate is barreling toward passage of the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, a sprawling 61-page bill that would impose some of the most aggressive economic penalties on Moscow since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. The legislation has bipartisan backing that most bills can only dream about, with over 80 senators co-sponsoring an earlier version.
What’s actually in the bill
The bill proposes tariffs of up to 100% on countries that significantly purchase Russian energy. Any nation continuing to bankroll the Kremlin’s war machine through oil and gas purchases could face punishing trade barriers with the US.
The legislation also takes direct aim at Russia’s shadow fleet, the murky network of aging tankers that Moscow has used to circumvent existing sanctions and keep crude flowing to willing buyers. It targets Russia’s liquefied natural gas exports as well, going after supply chains tied to the country’s defense apparatus.
The bill has nearly doubled in scope from its previous draft, growing from 31 pages to 61. That expansion reflects a more comprehensive approach to choking off Russia’s revenue streams, codifying existing executive sanctions into law while simultaneously tightening the president’s authority to grant waivers.
