President Donald Trump has endorsed a bipartisan bill that would allow the United States to impose sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, including China, India, and Brazil, as Moscow continues its war in Ukraine, a senior US senator said Wednesday.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said Trump had “greenlit” the legislation following a “very productive” meeting with lawmakers.
The Sanctioning Russia Act, co-drafted by Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal, would give Trump authority to levy tariffs of up to 500% on imports from countries trading with Russia’s energy sector.
“This bill will allow President Trump to punish countries buying cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine,” Graham said. He added the measure would provide “tremendous leverage against China, India, and Brazil” to curb purchases of Russian oil financing Moscow’s military operations.
Global oil trade
Despite existing US and European sanctions, China and Russia remain major buyers of Russian oil.
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China purchased nearly 50% of Russia’s crude exports in November.
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India took about 38% of Russian oil exports.
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Brazil had sharply increased imports after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine but has reduced purchases in recent months.
The bill comes as Washington continues to push for pressure on Russia while supporting ongoing Moscow-Kyiv negotiations brokered by the US.
US support for European security measures
Separately, the Trump administration expressed support for European proposals for binding security guarantees for Ukraine. This includes post-war truce monitoring and the deployment of a European-led multinational force, though Russia has yet to indicate acceptance of NATO involvement.
Graham noted that the sanctions bill was “well-timed” as Ukraine makes concessions for peace, while he criticized Putin for continuing to attack civilians.
If enacted, the legislation would significantly expand US leverage over international energy markets, potentially reshaping trade relationships with major economies like China and India. Analysts say the move could increase tensions with targeted nations and influence global oil pricing, while reinforcing US support for Ukraine.
The bill also signals a broader US strategy to penalize countries indirectly supporting Russia’s military campaign, applying both economic and diplomatic pressure.
