Trump signs sanctions bill targeting Russia

US President Donald Trump signed a sanctions bill targeting Russia on Friday, authorising measures aimed at pressuring Moscow over its war in Ukraine. The legislation, passed by both chambers of Congress earlier this week, grants Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China, India, and several European nations. It also expands sanctions to include Iran and focuses on Russia's energy and defense sectors, along with President Vladimir Putin and senior officials. The bill, formally known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, honors the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent advocate for Ukraine who died in July. Graham had pushed for stronger actions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The legislation passed the Senate with an 86-11 margin and the House with a 262-159 vote. The measure targets Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers used to bypass existing sanctions and continues to restrict access to Russian energy markets. It also imposes sanctions on entities supporting Russia's military operations and extends restrictions to Iran's energy and weapons sectors. Exceptions are made for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and actively reducing dependence on Russian supplies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the legislation as symbolic and expressed gratitude to US lawmakers. He had previously engaged directly with US politicians to support the measures and attended an early procedural vote in the House. However, some critics argue that Trump already possessed the authority to impose sanctions on Russia but had not done so until now. India announced it would continue purchasing oil through "diversified sourcing," indicating it might avoid direct confrontation with the new measures. Meanwhile, China voiced opposition to the legislation, criticizing it as an example of unilateral sanctions lacking UN authorization or legal justification. A Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson stated Beijing would closely monitor developments and retain the right to respond to protect national interests and trade relations. The timing of Trump's signing coincides with upcoming high-stakes meetings between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. Ahead of these discussions, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will hold talks on trade and other issues in New York. Concerns remain that the bill could lead to broader tariffs affecting the European Union, given that some member states still rely on Russian energy imports. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, described the legislation as "scorching sanctions" that would "throttle Putin's war machine." Data indicates that China accounted for nearly half of Russian crude exports between December 2022 and August 2026, with India following at 37%. Turkey and the EU each accounted for 5%, though EU reliance on Russian energy has declined in recent years. Despite bipartisan support in Congress, the bill drew resistance from some Democratic lawmakers who feared Trump might exploit the new tariff powers to impose additional levies globally. They argued that granting such expansive authority risked harming the US economy and complicating international trade relationships. The legislation represents a significant escalation in US policy toward Russia, reflecting continued efforts to isolate Moscow economically and limit its ability to sustain the conflict in Ukraine. With Trump poised to meet with Xi Jinping soon, the implications of the new law for global trade dynamics and US-China relations remain under close scrutiny.