President Donald Trump approved a sweeping Russia sanctions bill after a direct push from Sen. Lindsey Graham, signaling a sharp escalation aimed at forcing Moscow toward an endgame in Ukraine.
The South Carolina Republican revealed Trump’s green light after meeting with the president, framing the move as a decisive shift in U.S. leverage over Vladimir Putin.
“After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others,” Graham wrote in a post.
The senator cast the timing as deliberate, tying the legislation to developments on the battlefield and diplomatic front.
After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others.
This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace…
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 7, 2026
“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent,” Graham added.
The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 would hand Trump unusually broad authority to economically isolate Russia while pressuring foreign governments that continue financing Moscow’s war.
At the center of the bill is a blunt financial weapon designed to punish countries still doing business with Russian energy exporters.
President Trump’s record is in a league of its own: cutting taxes and spending, crushing narcoterrorists, and boxing in the communist dictatorships in our backyard. pic.twitter.com/TRCNcWtzHv
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 7, 2026
The legislation mandates a 500 percent tariff on all goods imported from any country that continues to purchase Russian oil, petroleum products, or uranium.
The measure is designed to choke off revenue flowing into the Kremlin while discouraging foreign governments from bypassing U.S. sanctions.
“This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine,” Graham wrote.
He argued the tariff threat would dramatically reshape global calculations. “This bill would give President Trump tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil to incentivize them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that provides the financing for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine,” Graham said.
Graham said the Senate could vote as early as next week and predicted a strong bipartisan showing.
The sanctions push followed closely on the heels of an aggressive U.S. maritime operation tied to sanctioned oil flows.
Earlier Wednesday, U.S. forces seized an oil tanker attempting to transport Venezuelan oil to Russia.
The vessel had recently changed its name from the Bella 1 to the Marinera after fleeing the American blockade of Venezuela last month.
The seizure was carried out early in the day as the ship attempted to evade authorities. The tanker’s movements had been closely monitored by observers and analysts as U.S. military assets were repositioned to the United Kingdom in recent days.
The Kremlin accused the United States of violating maritime law in the operation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the seizures as part of broader stabilization efforts involving Venezuela.
He told reporters that the interim authorities in Venezuela recognize cooperation with the United States as the only viable path forward.
“They understand the only way they can move oil, generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they cooperate and work with the United States,” Rubio said.
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U.S. Southern Command confirmed that another sanctioned tanker had also been intercepted.
The command identified the vessel as the M/T Sophia, describing it as “a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker” engaged in illicit activity in the Caribbean Sea.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised the operations as rapid and controlled.
She described the actions as “two safe, effective boardings within hours of each other.”
Noem said the Bella 1 had attempted to dodge capture for weeks. She pointed out that the vessel tried to escape by changing flags and painting a new name on its hull. The effort, she said, was a “desperate and failed attempt to escape justice.”
Noem credited the “heroic” crew of the USCGC Munro with pursuing the ship across rough seas and severe storms.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt added that the Marinera was considered stateless after flying a false flag.
She said the crew would face prosecution under U.S. law and could be brought to the United States if necessary.
Asked whether the seizure risked inflaming tensions with Russia, Leavitt pointed to Trump’s posture. She said the president maintains an “open, honest and good” relationship with Putin.
She added that Trump would still enforce policies deemed best for the United States, including the embargo on dark fleet vessels.
Graham celebrated the tanker seizure in a separate post, casting it as part of a larger streak of U.S. wins against hostile regimes.
The post trolled Sen. Rand Paul on his birthday, with Graham writing that, “Next year to celebrate, maybe we can do a golf outing to Venezuela and Cuba! Should be good to go by then.”
To Senator @RandPaul, Happy Birthday!
I hope today is full of family, friends and good cheer.
Oh by the way, as a birthday present we have seized yet another oil tanker trying to transport sanctioned Venezuelan oil. I hear Russia isn’t too happy.
Next year to celebrate, maybe…
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 7, 2026
The sanctions push unfolded alongside dramatic developments in Venezuela. Trump announced Tuesday that interim Venezuelan authorities will turn over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States.
The president announced that the oil would be sold at market price. He added that he would control the proceeds to ensure they are “used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!”
Trump said the oil will be transported directly to U.S. unloading docks using storage ships.
The announcement followed the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife over the weekend. U.S. forces hauled the pair to New York City to face criminal drug charges.
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