The bill cleared its final congressional hurdle on Tuesday after the Senate passed it in August by 86 votes to 11. In the House, 203 Republicans, 58 Democrats and one independent voted in favor; seven Republicans and 152 Democrats opposed.

The legislation is named for the late Republican senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, who spent more than a year seeking bipartisan support for the initiative. Graham died in July.

A White House official told The Wall Street Journal that Trump intends to sign the bill. According to the official, the administration pressured the Republican majority in the House to advance the measure.

Under the text, the US would be able to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas whose share of Russian energy resources in their imports exceeds 15%. India and China fall under that definition. The same tariffs are envisaged for countries helping Russia evade sanctions. Russian exports to the US would be subject to a 500% tariff.

Personal sanctions are introduced against Vladimir Putin, members of the government and the leadership of the security services. The restrictions extend to Russian LNG projects, energy projects in the Arctic, the shadow fleet, vessels used for transshipment of oil, gas and coal at sea, and to individuals selling tankers to the Kremlin. The Central Bank of Russia and systemically important state banks — Sber, VTB and Gazprombank — fall under the sanctions.

Alexander Kolyandr of the Center for European Policy Analysis notes that Putin, the state banks and the Central Bank had already been sanctioned, but those measures were imposed by presidential decrees. They now acquire the status of law, meaning only Congress can lift them.

Freedom Finance analyst Natalia Milchakova believes that tighter sanctions against the Central Bank and state banks could cut off supplies of cash dollars and euros to Russia. According to her, a shortage of cash currency could arise on the domestic market, since it will become practically impossible for Russian banks to acquire it legally. This could force the Central Bank to impose restrictions on the purchase of cash dollars, and, under similar EU sanctions, euros as well.

Milchakova also allows that it will be harder for the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry to conduct operations on the currency market: a significant portion of non-cash yuan purchases is made in dollars. Settlements with Russian exporters and importers will also become substantially more difficult for foreign partners.

Some Democrats opposed the bill because of the additional tariff powers it grants Trump. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he supports pressure on Russia but cannot back broad new presidential powers to impose tariffs. Congressman Gregory Meeks noted that Trump already possesses significant powers to sanction Moscow and insisted on tougher requirements for the administration to use them.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a co-author of the bill, warned China and India after the vote that continuing purchases of Russian oil and gas could expose them to the new US measures. According to him, sanctions alone are not enough.

Estonia's ambassador to the US, Hannes Hanso, told Radio Liberty that he supports the toughest possible sanctions against Russia. He acknowledged that the bill is not ideal but noted that the priority is putting new sanctions into effect.

The passage of the law does not guarantee immediate new restrictions. According to Scott Miller of CSIS, Trump is negotiating with Russia on a settlement in Ukraine and does not need such an instrument. Bill Reinsch, also of CSIS, explains Congress's decision differently: many congressmen support Ukraine and are concerned about the situation on the battlefield, so they insist that something must be done. According to him, this law is of the 'at least something' variety.

Marcia Kaptur, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, believes the focus now shifts from Congress's actions to how the Trump administration will use the new powers. The law obliges Trump to impose the sanctions against Russia provided for in it within 30 days of its entry into force and to review them every six months.