The vast majority of the US Senate supported a sweeping sanctions bill against Russia, developed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
The document now needs to be considered by the House of Representatives in September, writes Reuters.
Sixty-eight senators supported the bill, and only nine opposed it.
The document imposes sanctions on Russian officials and permits tariffs up to 100% for China, India, Japan, and some EU countries to reduce their dependency on Russian oil and gas. President Trump will have the right to decide independently when to lift these tariffs.
However, the adoption of the document in the House of Representatives could face difficulties. Some lawmakers fear that new powers for Trump regarding tariffs could increase costs for American importers and consumers.
The authors of the bill insist that the tariffs will only affect the five largest importers of Russian crude oil and gas and the five countries helping Russia evade restrictions. They argue this will reduce Russia’s oil and gas revenues without harming the US and provide the best opportunity for Congress to support Ukraine. The document also prevents a lapse in sanctions against Iran’s energy and arms sectors.
Additional Information. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga noted the approval of the bill and emphasized that the US is demonstrating global leadership in this way.
“… Grateful for this crucial step towards strengthening the sanctions regime against the Russian aggressor. This landmark legislation is a powerful demonstration of America’s global leadership. I express sincere gratitude to the US Senate members for their leadership, principled bipartisan support, and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine. Together we are approaching lasting peace,” Sibiga wrote on his X page.
Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US Senate and stated that the bill helps increase pressure on Russia.
“Real strong American pressure and sanctions against Russia are what will help the most. Diplomacy gets closer with each step of pressure on the aggressor,” Zelensky noted.
- Senators have been striving for several months to pass a bipartisan bill that includes sanctions against Russia and buyers of its oil. The process accelerated after the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, who was one of the main initiators of the document.
