US President Donald Trump has given his approval to a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could impose penalties on countries doing business with Moscow, including India, China and Brazil, according to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
If passed, the Graham–Blumenthal sanctions bill would allow the US President to impose tariffs of up to 500 percent on countries that knowingly purchase Russian oil, gas or uranium.
The bill aims to target nations that, according to its sponsors, are helping fund Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war efforts.
Graham said he met Trump at the White House on Wednesday, where the President expressed support for the bill, which has been under discussion for several months. A White House official also confirmed the development to the Associated Press.
“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace while Putin continues the war and the killing of innocent people,” Graham said in a statement.
The senator added that the bill could be brought up for a vote as early as next week, though the timeline remains uncertain.
The Senate is expected to focus first on a temporary government funding package, followed by a scheduled recess for Martin Luther King Jr Day.
The legislation, jointly introduced by Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, authorises the US administration to impose secondary sanctions and steep tariffs on countries importing Russian energy and other key exports. The objective is to cut off financial support for Russia’s military operations.
While the White House had earlier sought changes to ensure greater flexibility for the President in enforcing the sanctions, it is not yet clear whether those revisions were included.
The bill enjoys wide bipartisan support, with dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate and a companion version introduced in the House by Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is continuing efforts to negotiate an end to the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are leading the US negotiations aimed at securing a peace deal.