NewzUS president Donald Trump signed off on the package after congressional approval on Wednesday. (EPA Images pic)WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump signed a bill Friday authorising new sanctions designed to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine, shortly after it received congressional approval this week.The legislation takes aim at Russia's energy and defence sectors, alongside president Vladimir Putin and other senior officials.It also targets Moscow's so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to evade Western sanctions, and allows Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.This could potentially cover China and India, and furthers efforts to cut off revenue financing Moscow's war.The Republican-led House of Representatives passed the package by a 262-159 vote on Wednesday.The bill would also target companies and foreign actors supporting Russia's military, and extend sanctions involving Iran.But the broad powers to impose tariffs sparked an unusual split among Democrats, who largely support Ukraine but have resisted handing Trump wider authority over trade.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said the legislation's passage was symbolic and thanked US lawmakers.India said on Thursday it would continue buying oil "through diversified sourcing".Trump's signing of the bill also comes a week before he is due to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. US President Donald Trump on Friday signed a new sanctions bill into law that targets Russia’s leading energy buyers – China and India – just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington for a state visit.
The White House issued a brief statement, saying that the President had “signed into law” the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” which “authorises and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions on Russia and extends existing sanctions on... WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump signed a bill Friday authorizing new sanctions designed to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine, shortly after it received congressional approval this week.
The legislation takes aim at Russia’s energy and defense sectors, alongside President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials. It also allows Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, potentially covering China and India. WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday signed into law a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russian officials and key pillars of its economy that is meant to punish and pressure Moscow for its ongoing war against Ukraine.The measure was a final legacy item for the late Sen.
Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a close ally and friend of the president who had just returned from Ukraine when he unexpectedly died in July. In the works for more than a year, the bill passed with large bipartisan margins: 86-11 in the Senate and 262-159 in the House.It’s meant to starve Russian President Vladimir Putin of the resources Moscow needs to continue its war in Ukraine after invading its neighbor more than four years ago. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., sanctions Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving.It also directs Trump to impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia’s natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.“If he were here today, he would be jubilant about our bill’s passage — and already thinking about the next one,” Blumenthal said of Graham after the House passed the legislation Wednesday evening.
Blumenthal added, “Putin is a thug who understands only force and strength, which is what we must show clearly and unequivocally.”Despite overwhelming support on Capitol Hill, the legislation faced criticism from a vocal set of Democratic lawmakers who warned that Trump could use his new expanded tariff powers to impose fresh levies in the European Union and elsewhere.“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?” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said as he laid out his opposition to the bill. “I can’t do it.”Graham’s journey to getting Trump’s sign-off on the bill had been full of fits and starts, as the White House had to be convinced that the president would be able to retain sufficient flexibility on sanctions. Eventually, Trump gave a nod to the bill after it included his push for a five-year extension of existing sanctions on Iran.
The measure was a final legacy item for the late Sen. It’s meant to starve Russian President Vladimir Putin of the resources Moscow needs to continue its war in Ukraine after invading its neighbor more than four years ago. It also directs Trump to impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia’s natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.
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