New Delhi/Washington: In a development that could carry major trade and diplomatic consequences for India, US President Donald Trump has approved a bipartisan sanctions bill seeking to penalise countries that continue importing Russian oil, with proposed tariffs running as high as 500 per cent.
The move was confirmed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who said the legislation had been “greenlit” by the President after what he described as a productive meeting at the White House. The bill has been jointly authored by Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal.
Posting on social media platform X, Graham said the proposed law would empower President Trump to take punitive action against countries purchasing discounted Russian crude, which he alleged was helping finance Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine. He added that the measure would give Washington significant leverage over major economies such as China, India and Brazil to push them towards ending their energy trade with Russia.
The legislation, formally titled the Russia Sanctions Enforcement and Accountability Act, is expected to be introduced for voting in the US Senate as early as next week. It aims to tighten enforcement of the existing price cap on Russian oil by imposing severe trade and financial penalties on countries and entities accused of bypassing the mechanism.
According to US media reports, the bill would grant the American administration wide-ranging powers to impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on imports from non-compliant nations, a step that could disrupt global trade flows and strain relations with several emerging economies.
India has become one of the largest importers of Russian crude since Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow in 2022, capitalising on lower prices to meet its growing energy needs. New Delhi has repeatedly maintained that its oil purchases are driven by national interest and market dynamics, and has rejected attempts to link its energy policy to geopolitical alignments.
Diplomatic observers believe the proposed legislation reflects Washington’s intent to intensify economic pressure on Russia while also testing the strategic autonomy of countries like India, which have sought to maintain a balanced stance on the Ukraine conflict.
Graham said he was hopeful of securing strong bipartisan backing for the bill, describing it as part of a broader effort to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin and safeguard American interests. He also noted that President Trump had recently echoed his views that tariff threats have proven effective in discouraging economic engagement with Russia.
The senator claimed that the US had already imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies and levied a 25 per cent tariff on India over its purchase of Russian crude, calling these steps the strongest pressure exerted on Moscow since the war began.
“If you want to end this conflict and put real pressure on Putin’s customers, this is the way to do it,” Graham said.
