Russia energy sanctions bill passes US Senate

The US Senate passed a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russia's energy revenues on Friday, sending the bill to the House of Representatives.

A House vote will not take place until at least early September because of the congressional summer recess.

The package would impose sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, financial institutions and the so-called shadow fleet used to evade restrictions on Moscow's oil exports. It would also allow President Donald Trump to set tariffs of up to 500 percent on Russian imports, including gas and oil.

The bill would further allow Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including countries such as China and India.

Supporters say cutting energy income is needed to weaken Russian President Vladimir Putin's ability to finance the war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year. If the measure becomes law, Putin would be among those targeted, along with other top officials.

The bill was named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11 after spending more than a year building support for it. Before his death, Graham said he had reached an agreement with the White House on a revised text that also extended existing sanctions authority aimed at restricting funding for Iran's energy and weapons sectors.

Darline Graham, the late senator's sister and successor in Congress, said final adoption would honor her brother and “promote peace by cutting off the funding fueling Russia's war machine.” Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the bill “hits Russia's energy and financial sectors very hard.”

Russia's embassy in the United States condemned the bill, saying it “does the current US administration a disservice.”

The move comes as Russia also faces increased European pressure. The European Union last month agreed to a 21st package of sanctions since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, focusing on an oil price cap, Moscow's financial sector, crypto firms and more Russian officials. A proposed sweeping visa ban was shelved.