Bipartisan momentum is building in the Senate for a Russia sanctions package that could move to a vote within days, marking a rare moment of cooperation on Ukraine policy in an otherwise fractious chamber.
Democrats have signaled readiness to proceed, and Republican leadership appears aligned despite last-minute complications. The legislation includes secondary tariffs on Russia and, at President Trump's recent insistence, extends sanctions on Iran that were otherwise set to expire.
Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have begun preliminary negotiations on timing. Thune indicated Thursday that his conference has accepted the Iran provisions without significant resistance. "I think everybody's fine with it, because we would do it anyway," Thune said.
The bill carries personal weight in the Senate chamber. It was championed aggressively by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who died suddenly on July 11. Graham spent his final days securing buy-in from the Trump administration and shepherding the measure toward passage. Senate colleagues say he had achieved that breakthrough before his death. Tuesday's memorial service for Graham will provide an emotional backdrop as senators consider the legislation.
The measure boasts more than 60 cosponsors and has undergone two significant revisions. Initially, senators reduced proposed secondary tariffs from 500 percent to 100 percent and limited Trump's tariffing authority to a maximum of five countries. Then, on July 19, Trump posted on Truth Social that Republicans should add Iran sanctions to the bill, citing Graham's wishes.
Senators interpreted Trump's demand as a call to include noncontroversial Iran sanctions scheduled to expire at year's end. That reading appears to have satisfied the demand.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed optimism about rapid movement. "Ukraine has the momentum on the battlefield, and the Kremlin's position is increasingly precarious. It is vital that we move as quickly as possible," Shaheen said.
Not all Democrats embrace the deal. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon acknowledged support for Ukraine aid but objected to handing Trump broader tariff powers. "The problem with the Russian sanction bill, because I very much support Ukraine, is that Trump is doing everything he can to just expand his reach into tariffs, and that's what he lives for," Wyden said. He indicated he was preserving procedural options to slow consideration, though he lacks the votes to stop the bill entirely.
With the Senate's crypto legislation, the CLARITY Act, unlikely to advance this work period, floor time appears available for the sanctions package. Both Thune and Schumer still must finalize a time agreement to lock in a vote schedule.
The breakthrough would come weeks before Election Day and signals the leadership's ability to function cooperatively on critical matters, a skill the chamber will need as it heads toward year-end deadlines on government funding and other business.
Author James Rodriguez: "This is what bipartisanship looks like when stakes are high enough, even if it takes a late-session nudge from Trump to seal the deal."
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