US President Donald Trump plans to sign a sweeping Russia sanctions bill after it cleared Congress with bipartisan support, a White House official said, paving the way for tougher restrictions on Moscow and potentially steep tariffs on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China. The legislation, named the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 after the late Republican senator who championed it, was approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday by 262 votes to 159. The Senate had passed the package last month by an 86-11 vote.
Targets Russian energy
The legislation seeks to intensify economic pressure on Moscow over its continuing war in Ukraine by targeting Russia’s energy and defence sectors, individuals and institutions supporting its military-industrial complex and the so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to circumvent Western restrictions. It also extends sanctions relating to Iran. The package represents one of the most substantial pieces of Russia-focused legislation passed by Congress since Trump returned to the White House.
A key provision gives Trump broad authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries that remain among the biggest purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas, as well as countries found to be facilitating Moscow’s efforts to evade energy sanctions. India, China and Turkey are among the largest buyers of Russian energy and could therefore be exposed to the measures if the President chooses to exercise the authority provided by the legislation. The bill also gives Trump powers to waive sanctions where their application is deemed contrary to US national interests.
India flags concerns
The tariff provisions have attracted particular attention in New Delhi. India on Thursday reiterated that it remained firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people and said the issue had already been discussed at high levels with US interlocutors. New Delhi has warned that punitive measures linked to its purchases of Russian energy could have implications for India-US relations as well as global energy markets.
India significantly increased purchases of discounted Russian crude after the outbreak of the Ukraine war, arguing that its procurement decisions were driven by market conditions and the need to secure affordable energy for a large developing economy. The new legislation does not automatically mean that a 100 per cent tariff will be imposed on Indian goods; rather, it gives Trump authority to deploy tariffs against countries covered by its provisions.
Debate over tariff powers
The measure received substantial bipartisan backing but also exposed divisions in Congress. While supporters argued that stronger economic pressure was necessary to deprive Moscow of revenue and push it towards negotiations, critics objected to the extensive tariff authority being handed to the President. Fifty-eight Democrats supported the legislation, while several senior Democrats opposed it over concerns that the powers could be used against US allies and raise costs for American consumers.
Ukraine has strongly supported the legislation, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urging Washington to increase economic pressure on Russia. With congressional approval complete and the White House confirming Trump intends to sign the measure, attention will now shift to how aggressively the administration uses its new sanctions and tariff powers — particularly against major economies continuing to buy Russian energy.