86 senators vote to move forward with Graham Russia sanctions bill

86 senators vote to move forward with Graham Russia sanctions bill

In a massive show of bipartisanship, 86 senators voted to move forward with a Russia and Iran sanctions bill championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Why it matters: The vote came hours after senators gathered to honor Graham's memory, and immediately following a closed-door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

  • The vote was 86-12. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the only Republican to vote against it.
  • It is a procedural vote, but leadership hopes that the strong bipartisan support will allow for an expedited path to final passage.

    • The details: The bill had been led by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and reached more than 60 cosponsors this month.

  • The legislation would impose 100% secondary tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil and gas.
  • The bill also targets Russia's "shadow fleet" — the network of aging tankers used to evade Western sanctions while exporting Russian oil.
  • It was also updated to renew sanctions on Iran set to expire after the end of the year.

    • Between the lines: The sanctions package has long had wide bipartisan support, but concerns from the White House held it up for months.

  • Graham had been the key negotiator with the White House, trying to adjust language to ensure President Trump's signature.
  • After the senator's unexpected death, Trump indicated they would work to get the package done.

    • Zoom in: Some Democrats were hesitant to vote for the package, concerned about Trump's use of tariffs.

  • Zelensky and Finnish President Alexander Stubb gave compelling arguments for the need for the sanctions and tariffs package, arguing that Russia is in a losing position, sources tell Axios.
  • Zelensky watched the vote from the Senate chamber.