India vows to protect trade after new US Russia sanctions

On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives approved a significant package of sanctions against Russia, paving the way for President Donald Trump to sign the legislation. The measure, approved by a vote of 262 to 159, targets Russia's energy and defense industries, President Vladimir Putin, and key officials, as well as Moscow's "shadow fleet" of tankers used to evade Western restrictions.

Critically, the bill grants Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on nations that continue buying large volumes of Russian oil and gas, primarily aimed at China and India, Russia's largest remaining customers. This provision sparked controversy among some Democrats who objected to the president's broad trade policy authority.

Despite these concerns, most Democrats ultimately supported the bill, with a few Republicans opposing it on free-market grounds. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had advocated for the sanctions, arguing that sustained economic pressure was necessary to push Russia toward negotiations.

India, Russia's largest customer, responded by stating it would continue purchasing Russian oil through diversified sourcing. The legislation also targets companies and foreign entities supporting Russia's military efforts and extends existing sanctions related to Iran. With the bill expected to become law soon, Ukrainian advocacy groups welcomed the passage and called for strong US enforcement to end financial support to the Kremlin's war efforts.