The United States is moving forward with a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, which has been greenlit by President Donald Trump. US Senator Lindsey Graham announced that he met with President Trump at the White House, where the president approved the bill that has been in the works for months. The bill, authored by Senator Graham, aims to impose tariffs of up to 500% on imports from countries that continue to buy Russian energy products.
The proposed bill is part of the US efforts to increase pressure on Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine. Senator Graham stated that Moscow has “rebuffed all our efforts” to end the conflict and would not sign a peace deal “until we increase pressure.” The bill is expected to be put to a senate vote in the middle of January.
The US has been imposing sanctions on Russia since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, with the aim of weakening the Russian economy and forcing Moscow to negotiate a peace deal. However, Russia has repeatedly criticized Western sanctions, warning that they violate international law and harm global economic stability.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has described the tariff threats as “dirty methods” aimed at suppressing rivals. He added that such measures are a disrespect for human rights and would lead to global energy price spikes. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has also cautioned against additional secondary sanctions or tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil, citing the potential for global energy price spikes.
The European Union has also imposed sanctions on Russia, but has refrained from penalizing third-country partners. The US decision to move forward with the sanctions bill is likely to have significant implications for global trade and energy markets. As the bill makes its way through the senate, it is expected to face opposition from countries that continue to trade with Russia.
The US has already imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods over New Delhi’s trade with Moscow, which India has denounced as unjustified. The proposed bill is likely to further escalate tensions between the US and countries that continue to trade with Russia. The outcome of the senate vote will be closely watched, as it will have significant implications for global trade and energy markets.
