US Congress passes sweeping Russia sanctions bill

On Wednesday, the US Congress passed a sweeping sanctions bill targeting Russia in response to its ongoing war in Ukraine. The Republican-led House of Representatives approved the package by a 262-159 margin, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump for his expected signature. The Senate had previously passed the measure in a 86-11 vote last month.

The legislation aims to strangle Russia's economy by targeting its energy and defense sectors, President Vladimir Putin, and senior officials. It also grants Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, potentially including China and India. This comes after months of delay, with White House lawyers drafting the current text to maximize Trump's authority while minimizing any obligation to impose sanctions on Russia.

Despite widespread support for Ukraine, some Democrats objected to the bill's broad tariff provisions, with top Democrat Gregory Meeks calling it "deeply flawed." However, the bill received strong backing from pro-Ukraine activists and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who urged Congress to pass the sanctions. The legislation also extends sanctions against Iran and targets companies supporting Russia's military.

Once signed into law, the goal is to pressure Moscow into negotiating a peace settlement, with Ukrainian officials expressing hope for strong US enforcement to halt financial support for the war.