Trump Endorses Sanctions Bill to Target Russian Oil Purchasers

Post by : Mina Rahman

U.S. President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind a bipartisan Russia Sanctions Bill designed to penalize nations buying Russian oil, including major players like India, China, and Brazil. Put forward by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, this legislation could see tariffs imposed as high as 500% on countries willingly importing oil, uranium, gas, and other goods from Russia.

The primary goal of this initiative is to sever the financial lifelines that fuel Russia's ongoing military endeavors, particularly in light of the conflict triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. The sanctions measure is intended to apply intense economic pressure on Moscow, potentially undermining its capacity to sustain military operations.

Senator Graham recently met with President Trump at the White House, where the President expressed his support for the bill, which has been under consideration for several months. A White House representative also confirmed this backing in discussions with media outlets.

Graham emphasized that the timing for these sanctions is crucial, noting that Ukraine is seemingly making compromises in hopes of peace while Russian President Vladimir Putin continues aggressive military actions. He mentioned that a vote on the bill could occur as early as next week, though a specific timeline remains uncertain amidst other Senate commitments, including budget talks and an approaching recess.

The proposed sanctions would empower the U.S. President to impose significant tariffs and secondary penalties, effectively punishing nations that support Russia's war economy through trade. Even though the White House had previously sought some leeway in how the sanctions were enforced, it's unclear if any changes were made prior to Trump's backing.

This legislative effort has gained notable bipartisan support in the Senate, with numerous co-sponsors, and a similar proposal has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Republican Brian Fitzpatrick.

Simultaneously, the Trump administration continues to pursue a peace agreement to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, with key figures like special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the President's son-in-law, focused on finding a resolution.