Democrats ‘threaten support for Ukraine’ by challenging tariffs

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Democratic lawmakers are expressing opposition to a proposed bill that would impose tariffs up to 100 percent on major importers of Russian oil, citing concerns over expanding executive trade authority. This opposition risks blocking the legislation despite bipartisan support for sanctions, complicating U.S. efforts to economically pressure Russia during the conflict in Ukraine.

Democratic lawmakers are raising concerns that proposed sanctions targeting countries importing Russian oil could jeopardize U.S. support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. The proposal, backed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham and introduced under the Lindsey O’Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, would impose tariffs as high as 100 percent on the top five foreign purchasers of Russian oil.

While the specific countries have not been officially named, current import data suggests that major buyers such as China, Turkey, and India could be affected. The tariffs aim to curtail a significant revenue source for the Russian government, thereby intensifying economic pressure on Moscow as the conflict persists.

However, leading Democrats, including several potential candidates for the 2028 presidential election, have expressed skepticism about linking tariffs with sanctions. They warn that such a measure may grant the White House unchecked authority to impose tariffs in the future, potentially reviving a controversial trade policy approach associated with former President Donald Trump.

Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey emphasized his support for aiding Ukraine but stressed the importance of scrutinizing the details of any sanctions regime. “Trump has shown himself to abuse tariff authority in a really reckless way that’s causing harm to our economy,” Booker said. “I know that we’ve been working to narrow that, so that’s what I’m going to be looking at. Especially with Ukraine’s increasing reach [in Russia], it’s really time to do everything we can to support them. But the details are really important to me.”

Similarly, Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia described the expansion of tariff powers as “deeply concerning,” reflecting a broader apprehension within the Democratic caucus about ceding additional trade authority to the executive branch.

Despite bipartisan agreement on the principle of sanctions against Russian oil imports, Democrats oppose any legislative framework that combines sanctions with tariff powers. Their resistance puts the bill’s future in jeopardy ahead of a potential Senate vote, which could take place as soon as next week. Passage would require unanimous senatorial support, a steep hurdle given the internal divisions.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong advocate for the sanctions and who passed away on July 11, had originally proposed tariffs as high as 500 percent on Russian oil buyers. The revised bill lowers those rates but maintains the strategy of economically isolating Russia through trade restrictions.

The ongoing debate underscores the complexities of balancing a robust U.S. response to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine with domestic political considerations and concerns over executive authority on trade policy. Lawmakers continue to seek a consensus that would maximize pressure on Moscow without triggering unintended economic consequences or empowering a future president with expansive tariff powers.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.