Trump signs new sanctions package against Russia — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): US President Donald Trump has signed into law a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russia over its war in Ukraine, days after Congress sent the legislation to the White House with rare bipartisan support. Signed on Friday, the legislation, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, honors the late Republican senator who spent more than a year negotiating the bill before his sudden death in July. The legislation was co-authored by Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. According to Al Jazeera, the law imposes sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior officials and oligarchs, as well as Russian banks and financial institutions. It also targets Russia’s energy and defense sectors and the so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to transport Russian oil in an effort to circumvent Western sanctions. A key provision authorizes Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas. The measure is expected to affect China and India most heavily, as they are the two largest importers of Russian crude. The legislation separately extends sanctions targeting Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. The bill passed the Senate last month and the House of Representatives on Wednesday, with 58 Democrats joining Republicans in supporting the measure. It is the first major Ukraine-related…