The US Republican-led US House of Representatives passed on Wednesday a package of broad new sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

The bill passed 262-159, after breezing through the Senate in an 86-11 vote last month.

The bill, considered the toughest legislative effort against Russia during US President Donald Trump's second term, awaits the president's signature to come into law. Trump has said he will sign it.

What does the sanctions package against Russia entail?

The package targets Russia's energy and defense sectors, President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials. It also targets Moscow's so-called shadow fleet, old tankers it uses to circumvent sanctions.

More controversially, the legislation allows Trump to impose secondary sanctions on countries that rely on Russian oil and gas, in the form of tariffs. China and India are expected to be the main targets of such measures.

The bill would also extend sanctions on Iran.

It was drafted in April 2025 by late Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly in July.

But Trump had delayed the bill's passage, as his foreign policy favors retaining control over tariffs and sanctions rather than leaving such decisions to Congress.

Who opposed the bill and why?

Democrats who voted for the bill broke ranks with the party leadership, which argues the legislation expands Trump's tariff powers and that the president already has the power to sanction Russia should he choose to.

"What this legislation will do ​is give Donald Trump, perhaps, unfettered authority to unleash ⁠tariffs on the American people," House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a speech on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, some Republicans opposed to the bill were wary of compounded tariffs further increasing consumer prices ahead of the midterm elections in November.

The bill's supporters say it is integral to keeping up the pressure on Russia. 

It has been celebrated by Ukrainian activists. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with lawmakers to urge its passage and even watched an early procedural vote from the chamber.

Edited by: Sean Sinico

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