US Senators Secure White House Backing for New Russia Energy Sanctions Bill

Four U.S. senators – Republicans Lindsey Graham and Roger Wicker and Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Jeanne Shaheen – announced on July 10 that they have reached an agreement with President Donald Trump’s administration to move forward with a bipartisan bill targeting countries that purchase Russian oil, natural gas and uranium. The legislation would allow the president to impose secondary sanctions and tariffs of up to 500 % on imports from nations that continue to buy Russian energy, with China and India identified as the biggest buyers. Senators said the measure aims to “exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine,” as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian civilians. The White House has given the “green light” after Trump’s recent meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and comments at the G7 summit in France. Details of the sanctions package – which could also target Russia’s shadow‑fleet of oil tankers – were not disclosed, but the sponsors expect to introduce the bill in Congress “very soon.”