Trump Signs Sanctions Bill Targeting Russia's Energy Sector

US President Donald Trump has signed a landmark sanctions bill aimed at Russia's energy sector. The legislation, named after late Senator Lindsey Graham, targets major buyers of Russian oil and gas, with China and India being the primary focus.

The bill gives Trump broad powers to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas, which is expected to have a significant impact on Russia's economy. The legislation also extends sanctions to Iran's energy and weapons sectors at Trump's request.

Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air shows that China accounted for 50% of Russian crude exports between December 2022 and August 2026, while India accounted for 37%. Turkey and the European Union each accounted for 5% during the same time period.

The bill includes exceptions for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are working to reduce their dependency. Senator Richard Blumenthal described the legislation as 'scorching sanctions' which would 'throttle Putin's war machine'. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the passage of the bill by the House of Representatives, calling it a 'symbolic act' given Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine.