President Donald Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 into law on Friday, expanding U.S. economic pressure on Moscow and granting new tariff authority against countries that trade significantly with Russia.

The legislation was passed by the House on Wednesday following Senate approval last month. The White House stated that the law "authorizes and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions on Russia and extends existing sanctions on Iran."

Expanded Sanctions Scope

The measure targets key components of Russia’s economy to restrict revenue supporting its war in Ukraine. According to Reuters, the legislation expands sanctions on Russia’s energy and defense sectors. It also specifically targets the so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers used to circumvent existing restrictions.

Tariff Authority for Trading Partners

A significant provision of the law authorizes tariffs against major buyers of Russian energy. This mechanism aims to extend economic pressure beyond Moscow to its primary trading partners.

Critics have raised concerns regarding the breadth of this authority. They argue that the legislation grants Trump broad power to impose tariffs that could remain in effect beyond his presidency. There are also concerns that these expanded powers create economic risks for nations maintaining significant trade ties with Russia.

Russia’s Response

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the sanctions landscape at the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi earlier this month. He stated that Russia has faced more than 30,000 sanctions, describing economic restrictions and trade barriers as tools of geopolitical competition.

Putin noted that Russia has responded by strengthening ties with "reliable, predictable partners." He also claimed that the Russian economy has grown faster than the global average over the past three years.

A new NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence study reveals that Russia's propaganda architecture has a predictable vulnerability during the first 18 hours of an unexpected crisis.

The research, commissioned by Repsense and conducted with political science researchers, analyzed approximately 3.13 million media and social network items over 15 months. The data covers the period from January 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.

The 3C Model

Researchers identified a consistent three-phase sequence they term the 3C model: Crisis, Control, and Crusade.

• Crisis: Competing versions of events circulate without state guidance.
• Control: A single Kremlin-approved version emerges and is repeated simultaneously across state websites, television, and Telegram.
• Crusade: The event is reframed as part of a larger ideological struggle with the West.

What the Numbers Show

The analysis highlights a structural lag between event occurrence and state narrative control. While the Kremlin takes an average of 18 hours to agree on an official position, the information space remains ownerless during this window. This divergence suggests that speed of response is more critical than completeness for external actors attempting to counter disinformation.

Case Study: Kursk Region

The August 6, 2024 incursion by Ukrainian forces into Russia's Kursk region demonstrated this pattern clearly. For seven hours, Russian state media remained silent. During this gap, Telegram channels and military bloggers provided competing explanations. Once the coordinated position emerged after 18 hours, it was uniformly broadcast across all state platforms.

Primary Audience

The study concludes that the primary audience for this propaganda system is Russia's own population. The goal is mobilizing citizens rather than persuading foreign audiences. Interventions and fact-based explanations remain possible until the transition from chaos to control is complete.