Anna Hartz
Washington has been moving toward a tougher stance on Russia for months, but now the U.S. says it is preparing to take another step that could reshape how countries trade with Moscow.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Nov. 16 that congressional Republicans are working on legislation that would punish any country that continues to do business with Russia, reports the Kyiv Independent.
He spoke briefly to reporters in Palm Beach, Florida. He said the penalties would be harsh. He also said Iran may be included in the same package of measures.
Russia’s Largest Oil Companies Targeted
The new bill would expand on actions the administration has taken this fall. In October, the White House rolled out its first major sanctions against Russia in this phase of the conflict.
Those steps targeted Rosneft and Lukoil. These are Russia’s two largest oil companies. Several of their subsidiaries were also included.
There has been movement on those sanctions in recent days. The Treasury Department postponed its penalties on Lukoil. They were supposed to begin on Nov. 21. The delay gives the company time to sell its foreign assets so that the measures do not disrupt energy markets overnight.
Tariffs as Pressure Strategy
The U.S. has also used tariffs as part of its pressure strategy. Earlier this year, Washington placed a 50% tariff on India. India is one of the world’s biggest buyers of Russian oil.
The administration said New Delhi continued its purchases even after warnings that more steps could follow if Russia did not move toward peace talks in Ukraine.
Trump did not share many details about the coming bill. He said it is still being drafted. He made it clear that Iran would probably be included.
Iran has become one of Russia’s most important partners since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Tehran has supplied drones, weapons and other equipment to support Moscow’s war.
The White House has said it wants to close gaps that allow Russia to stay afloat. This new legislation appears aimed at countries that try to work around the existing system, and it signals that Washington is preparing to tighten its approach once again.
Sources: Kyiv Independent.
This article is made and published by Anna Hartz, who may have used AI in the preparation
