US Congress passes sanctions bill targeting Russia

The Republican-led House of Representatives in the United States approved wide-ranging sanctions against Russia on Wednesday, aiming to impact the nation's energy and defense sectors, President Vladimir Putin, as well as key officials in Moscow. The bill, which has been in the works for months, received a final congressional approval with a vote of 262-159, marking the most substantial US legislation targeting Moscow since Donald Trump's return to office.

The legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Trump, following its approval in the Senate with an 86-11 vote last month.

The measures target Russia's energy and defense industries, as well as the so-called shadow fleet of tankers that Russia uses to bypass Western sanctions. Furthermore, the bill grants President Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major importers of Russian oil and gas, potentially including China and India, in order to hinder the financial resources supporting Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.

While the bill passed overwhelmingly with support from Democrats who strongly back Ukraine, there was an unusual divide among Democrats regarding the bill's scope. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, referred to the legislation as "deeply flawed." The White House lawyers drafted the bill to grant President Trump maximum authority over imposing new import taxes on American citizens and to minimize the need for actual sanctions on Russia or its supporters.

Despite opposition from a few Republicans who objected to sanctions on free-market or non-interventionist grounds, the majority of Democrats still backed the measure. Pro-Ukraine activists celebrated the vote, highlighting that Russian attacks, including drone strikes on civilian transport, continue unabated. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Congress to pass the sanctions package, emphasizing that stronger pressure was necessary to force Moscow toward negotiations.

India, a crucial strategic partner and military supplier for Russia, stated that its oil purchases would continue through diversified sourcing and market dynamics evolving. The bill also aims to target companies and foreign actors supporting Russia's military activities, as well as sanctions involving Iran. President Trump has generally preferred retaining control over sanctions and tariffs rather than Congress dictating policy, which contributed to the bill's delay for over a year.

The sponsor of the legislation, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away in July, had been advocating for the bill since April 2025. The vote occurred just before House lawmakers were set to depart Washington for campaigning ahead of the November midterm elections. Once signed, the bill is expected to significantly reduce Russian cash flows supporting the war in Ukraine, according to Svitlana Romanko, the executive director of the Ukrainian energy lobby group Razom We Stand.