U.S. President Donald Trump Signs Russia Sanctions Bill Into Law

U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Russia sanctions bill into law on Friday, September 18, 2026, according to a statement issued by the White House. The legislation, designated as H.R. 5334 and officially named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, authorises and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions on Russia while extending existing sanctions against Iran.

The White House confirmed the signing following legislative action earlier in the week. The U.S. House of Representatives had passed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The measure targets Russia’s leadership, its energy sector, collaborators within Moscow’s defence industry, and the country's network of maritime vessels commonly referred to as the shadow fleet.

A central component of the newly enacted law grants President Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on nations that purchase Russian oil and gas. Major purchasers identified in the scope of the legislation include India and China. The framework awards the U.S. President wide discretion regarding its implementation, including decisions over which countries face tariffs, the specific tariff rates applied, and whether particular sanctions provisions are granted waivers.

The legislation is scheduled to take effect within 30 days of the President's signature. It mandates that the administration impose duties of up to 100% on goods imported from countries that rank among the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas by total volume over the 12-month period preceding enactment.

However, the statute includes specific carve-outs and exemption criteria. A country can be exempted from the gas-related duties if its imports of Russian gas accounted for less than 15% of Russia’s total exports during the applicable period and if the importing nation has taken significant steps to reduce those purchases.

Beyond major state buyers, the legislation takes direct aim at Russia's energy supply chains and sanctions evasion tactics. It targets the maritime shadow fleet and other foreign entities involved in supporting Russian energy production. This includes vessel owners, operators, managers, insurers, and various other private and commercial parties engaged in covered activities that facilitate trade with Moscow.

International reactions followed the enactment of the law. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke out early Saturday, September 19, 2026, publicly thanking President Trump for signing the sanctions bill into law. Mr. Zelenskyy also expressed gratitude to members of the U.S. Congress for supporting the legislation and securing its passage.

Emphasising the political significance of the measure, Mr. Zelenskyy invoked the memory of the late U.S. lawmaker who championed the policy. He stated that the best way to honour Lindsey’s memory would be to implement the provisions of this law fully and as quickly as possible, referring to the late Senator Lindsey Graham.

The legislative package represents a significant escalation in Western economic pressure on Moscow, combining broad energy restrictions with punitive secondary tariff mechanisms directed at major developing economies that maintain commercial ties with the Russian energy sector.

With the formal enactment complete, attention turns to the executive branch and how the administration intends to exercise its broad discretionary powers during the 30-day window leading up to the law taking full effect. The implementation strategy will heavily influence diplomatic relations with key trading partners like India and China, both of which maintain substantial economic ties with the Russian energy market.

Agencies including PTI and Reuters contributed reporting to the initial updates regarding the passage and signing of the sanctions bill.

As the 30-day countdown to enforcement begins, policymakers, energy analysts, and international trade partners are closely monitoring how the White House will balance its enforcement mandates against potential economic and diplomatic friction with major global energy buyers.