Trump signs Russia sanctions bill into law

WASHINGTON:

US President Donald Trump has signed the sweeping Russia ?sanctions bill into law, the White House said in a ?statement, paving the way for increased economic pressure on Russia ?over its invasion of Ukraine.

The legislation targets Russia's energy and defense industries, as well as its "shadow fleet" of tankers that evade existing sanctions, in order ?to deprive Moscow of funds used to pay for its war with Ukraine.

Critics say the legislation, which also levies tariffs on Russia's ?biggest trading partners, could herald trouble for other countries as well if they find themselves in Trump's crosshairs in the future because it also authorizes the president to impose tariffs that could last well beyond his presidency.

The bill, now called the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," to honor the South Carolina Republican who died in July, passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday and the Senate last month. Graham, a longtime Russia hawk, was a staunch backer of the legislation.

Cyberattacks

Russia said Saturday that its electronic voting system in Moscow had been hit by "powerful" cyberattacks overnight, as tightly controlled parliamentary elections entered a second day.

Ella Pamfilova, chair of Russia's Central Election Commission, did not give details on the nature of the attack or who was responsible.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused Ukraine of trying to "hinder" the vote, an accusation to which Kyiv has not responded. Ukraine has called the election farcical.

Only parties that support Putin and the Kremlin's military campaign have been registered to run, while voting is also being held in areas of east Ukraine under Russian occupation.

"All night long, the Moscow system was subjected to a very powerful, continuous attack," Pamfilova was quoted as saying by Russia's state RIA news agency.