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It could be passed as early as next week, according to the Senator.
The White House has allegedled given a thumbs up for a major bipartisan sanctions bill aimed at deepening U.S. financial pressure on Moscow and its global energy partners, setting the stage for a possible Senate vote next week, lawmakers say.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a post on X, that President Donald Trump has “greenlit” legislation that would allow the United States to impose secondary sanctions and steep tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil and gas.
According to the post from Graham, the bill would be giving the president broader authority to penalize major energy buyers, including China, Brazil and India.
Graham finishes the post by saying that the bill could be passed as early as next week.
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Legislative hurdles remain
Despite widespread support in both parties, the bill has been stalled for months, even as sponsors pushed for action.
According to India TV News, past iterations of the legislation sought to impose 500 % tariffs on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy products, a move intended to cut off funding for Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
The White House has yet to issue an official statement on the bill or confirm a final schedule for a floor vote.
Russian-flagged tanker seized
The sanctions push comes as Reuters and The Guardian reports that U.S. forces seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic yesterday in an operation cited by the Pentagon as part of enforcement against vessels violating U.S. sanctions.
Moscow condemned the tanker’s capture as unlawful, branding the action “piracy” and demanding the crew’s safe return.
The broader context includes ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to negotiate an end to the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, even as tensions with Russia remain high.refusal to cease hostilities in Ukraine amid Trump’s negotiation efforts.
Sources: Associated Press, The Guardian, Reuters, India TV News
