US Congress has passed a Russia sanctions bill aimed at cutting off the resources Moscow uses to continue its war in Ukraine, sending the measure forward after securing President Donald Trump’s support.
The legislation cleared the Senate by 86 votes to 11 and the House by 262 to 159. It targets Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers accused of keeping the country’s energy exports moving.
The bill would also direct Mr Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five biggest importers of Russian oil or natural gas. Countries importing less than 15% of Russia’s gas exports could be exempt if they have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.
The measure was a major unfinished project of the late senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Mr Trump who had returned from Ukraine shortly before his unexpected death in July. It had been in development for more than a year and was also drafted by Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut.
Darline Graham, Senator Graham’s sister, was appointed to complete his Senate term. In a statement on Friday, she said: “I wish Lindsey were here to celebrate this historic day. I know he would be so proud. Lindsey believed this bill, which he worked on for well over a year, would help end the war through squeezing Putin economically and forcing his customers to reevaluate their relationship with Russia.”
Mr Blumenthal said after the House approved the legislation that his former colleague “would be jubilant about our bill’s passage — and already thinking about the next one”. He added: “Putin is a thug who understands only force and strength, which is what we must show clearly and unequivocally.”
Despite the broad support in Congress, a group of Democratic lawmakers opposed the measure over concerns about the expanded tariff powers it would give Mr Trump. They warned that he could use them to impose fresh levies on the European Union and other countries.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said: “Why in the world would this Congress or the People’s House give this president unfettered authority to visit more tariffs on the world that will have an adverse economic impact on the American people? I can’t do it.”
The White House had previously sought to ensure that Mr Trump retained flexibility over sanctions before backing the legislation. His support came after the bill incorporated his demand for a five-year extension of existing sanctions on Iran.
