Ukraine-Krieg: US-Kongress beschließt Gesetz für Russland-Sanktionen

In the United States, the House of Representatives has voted in favor of a sanctions law to put more pressure on Russia due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Alongside direct punitive measures against Russian politicians and companies, the law aims to tighten restrictions on Russian oil and gas exports, which fund Russia's aggressive war.

The House voted with a bipartisan majority of 262 to 159 in favor of the law. It is now heading to President Donald Trump for signing, who had previously indicated his approval. The Senate had already approved the law a month ago by a clear majority. Named after Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away in July, the legislation empowers Trump to impose sanctions on the five largest purchasers of Russian energy resources and the five countries that most assist Russia in evading energy sanctions, potentially straining US trade relations with China and India, which heavily rely on Russian oil.

The first five largest purchasers of Russian energy will be targeted for sanctions one year before the law takes effect, with import tariffs on their goods in the US potentially reaching up to 100 percent, which can be adjusted over time based on each country's efforts to reduce reliance on Russian oil and gas. The law also exempts countries importing less than 15 percent of Russia's natural gas annually and those taking measures to reduce such purchases.

"Our European allies are therefore not affected," emphasized Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal in mid-July. A week before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit, the sanctions could strain trade relations. Alongside Russia sanctions, the law also sets the stage for extending sanctions against Iran until 2031. Despite Trump's previous reluctance to pressure China over Russian energy imports, he has temporarily imposed a 25 percent tariff on goods from India due to oil purchases.

The two largest economies in the world have been embroiled in a heated trade dispute for some time. The Congress is sending a message against Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine, which has been brutally waged since February 2022. The law also puts pressure on the US president to influence Putin. Whether Trump will make full use of the extensive powers granted by the sanctions law remains unclear.

He had hinted during his re-election campaign that he could end the war within a day. The US sees itself as a mediator in the war, but so far, there have been no significant advancements. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the law in August, when it passed the Senate. While some prominent Democrats welcomed the support for Ukraine, they criticized the dramatic expansion of the president's tariff powers and the lack of guarantee that new sanctions on Russia would indeed be imposed.

The initial draft of the law was introduced as early as 2025, but it remained stuck in the Senate. After Graham's death, his colleagues in Congress pushed for a swift passage, which occurred in early August, just a few weeks after his passing. Trump was already asked in July whether he would sign the package for new Russia sanctions if it passed the Congress.

He then vaguely indicated his support, stating that Graham, who had recently been in Ukraine and could report on progress, had wanted these sanctions more than anything else and that the chances of implementation were good.