Russia sanctions advance, as the US deepens economic pressure

The United States is intensifying economic pressure on Russia, with President Donald Trump poised to sign legislation that tightens sanctions on the nation's energy sector. This move, which has faced objections from Democrats concerned about the potential expansion of presidential trade powers, was endorsed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Key provisions in the sanctions bill include the ability for Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, a list that includes China and, according to critics like Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY), could be extended to any country on Trump's adversaries' list.

The administration has so far been hesitant to expand existing sanctions against Russia, fearing such a move could worsen the global oil and gas shortage. While the bill is seen as making future penalties less discretionary for the president, its enforcement capacity is uncertain. A sanctions official in Ukraine, who advocated for the bill's passage, emphasized the need for straightforward implementation of the tariff authority on Russian oil and gas revenue, alongside tight coordination with the EU and the G7 to prevent any loopholes.