Russia sanctions bill postponed in US Senate
A bipartisan US Senate bill seeking to impose steep tariffs on nations that purchase Russian energy is unlikely to be debated this month, Semafor reported on Tuesday, citing senior lawmakers.
The bill, co-sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, proposes a 500% tariff on US imports from countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas unless they actively support Ukraine.
The lawmakers had pressed for its passage ahead of the G7 summit in Canada, reiterating the push as recently as Sunday. The summit concluded on Tuesday, with President Donald Trump departing early and forgoing a meeting with Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky.
The bill is 'going to have to wait a bit,' Graham told Semafor, citing the escalation of violence in the Middle East since the Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last Friday. 'That doesn't mean I've forgotten about Russia or Ukraine. Not at all.'
Semafor also referred to remarks by Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Tuesday, who suggested that a 'July timeframe' for the bill is likely. Alongside concerns about the Middle East crisis, congressional focus is currently directed at Trump's proposals for federal spending and tax cuts.
Trump, who has said he may introduce new sanctions on Russia, has so far resisted pressure to act quickly. He reiterated his cautious approach in remarks at the G7 summit in Alberta.
'When I sanction a country, that costs the US a lot of money – a tremendous amount of money,' he said. 'It's not just, let's sign a document. You're talking about billions and billions of dollars. Sanctions are not that easy. It's not just a one-way street.'
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal claimed that the White House was lobbying senators to revise the bill, aiming to shift key provisions to grant the president discretion over sanctions rather than imposing automatic penalties. The Trump administration is reportedly concerned that the legislation could undercut its efforts to improve US-Russia relations.
Russian officials have dismissed the threat of additional sanctions, saying no amount of external pressure or military aid to Kiev will alter Russia's objectives in the Ukraine conflict.
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