US Senate Passes Bill to Impose 'Hell Sanctions' on Russia

A bill to impose 'hell sanctions' on Russia has passed its first Senate vote with bipartisan support. The legislation, proposed by late Senator Lindsey Graham and co-authored by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, allows for secondary tariffs of between 0% and 100% to be imposed on buyers of Russian oil and gas.

The bill aims to limit trade between Russia and countries such as China, India, and Türkiye, which are the largest buyers of Russian oil. If implemented, Russia would cut oil production and sell its oil at lower prices.

Analysts believe that the bill has a strong chance of passing through Congress, with Trump's support guaranteeing House of Representatives backing. The legislation could be passed and signed before the congressional midterm elections in November 2025.