- US Senate passed Russian energy sanctions bill negotiated by late Senator Lindsey Graham
- The bill targets countries buying Russian gas, oil, and exports funding Ukraine war
- Legislation received bipartisan support, passing with an 86 to 11 Senate vote
US Senate has passed Russian energy sanctions bill negotiated by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The bill seeks to impose penalties on countries buying Russian gas, oil, and other exports that allegedly fund Ukraine war.
The legislation received bipartisan support, ultimately passing on an 86 to 11 vote.
Last month, US senators introduced a revised version of a Russia sanctions bill that softens the earlier threat of sweeping tariffs on buyers of Russian energy, likely including China and India, Reuters reported. . At present, China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan currently rank as the top purchasers of Russian crude.
Replacing the original bill introduced by Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal in April 2025, the current version capped tariffs on the top five buyers of Russian crude and gas at 100%, down from 500% proposed earlier.
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Earlier reports mentioned that the bill provides exemption to countries importing less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports provided they are actively cutting back, a provision expected shield Japan, France, Hungary and Belgium
The proposed legislation would also cover the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 till 2031, levying secondary economic sanctions on non-US companies engaged with Iran.
Additionally, the bill also permits Trump to levy a blanket tariff of 500% on Russian goods imported to the US. The new tariff authority would last for five years, Bloomberg News reported.
The Trump administration had earlier made efforts to impose sanctions on Russia, however provided temporary waivers for oil sales after the closing of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war that triggered a crisis on oil markets. In 2025, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on India over Russian energy purchases, which was later lifted.
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