Bipartisan lawmakers, led by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, are pushing the Sanctioning Russia Act, which would give President Trump authority to impose a 500% tariff on Russian oil and gas if Moscow escalates the war in Ukraine or rejects peace efforts.
As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its third year, bipartisan lawmakers are proposing 500% secondary tariffs on countries like China, Brazil, and India that continue trading with Russia.
The goal is to pressure the Kremlin by targeting its key economic partners and deterring support for its efforts to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty. Trump has criticized India and China for buying discounted Russian oil and weakening Western sanctions, though U.S.-Russia trade has already dropped sharply since the 2022 invasion.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and EU imposed sweeping sanctions to cripple Moscow’s economy. Meanwhile, the Kremlin says President Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet with Trump—and possibly Zelenskyy—in what would be the first such meeting since the war began.
Sanctioning Russia Act threatens Moscow, allies with 500% tariffs https://t.co/M0S9u5vTft
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) August 8, 2025
