Latest news with #SanctioningRussiaActof2025
New York Post
a day ago
- Business
- New York Post
House Speaker Mike Johnson backs efforts to sanction Russia ‘as strongly as we can'
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) threw his support behind renewed congressional efforts to sanction the Kremlin over Russian President Vladimir Putin's brutal war against Ukraine. 'There's many members of Congress that want us to sanction Russia as strongly as we can,' Johnson told reporters on Monday. 'And I'm an advocate of that.' The House speaker's support for legislation punishing the Russian regime comes amid a bipartisan push in the Senate to impose 'bone-breaking sanctions' on Russia. 3 Johnson expressed support for passing sanctions legislation against Russia on Monday. AP Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have co-sponsored a measure in the upper chamber that would slap a 500% tariff on any country purchasing Russian energy products. Graham expects the Senate to 'start moving' the bill forward this week. 'You will see congressional action,' the South Carolina Republican said during a press conference in Ukraine last week. Like Johnson, Graham noted that 'there are House members that are ready' to pass the sanctions bill and get it to President Trump's desk for his signature. It's unclear if Trump would support severe sanctions on Moscow amid Russia-Ukraine peace talks that have seemingly failed to gain any traction. 3 Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv over the weekend. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images 'We are in conversations with the White House, obviously, about that subject and that issue,' Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters on Monday. 'There's a high level of interest here in the Senate, on both sides of the aisle and moving on it, and it very well could be something that we would take up in this work period,' Thune added. 'Obviously, we're working with the White House to try and ensure that what we do and when we do it works well with the negotiations that they've got underway.' 3 The Senate bill would impose 500% tariffs on countries that purchase energy from Russia. via REUTERS The Graham-Blumenthal bill – 'Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025' – has more than 80 co-sponsors in the Senate. 'The bill would put Russia on a trade island,' Graham wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed last week. 'The consequences of its barbaric invasion must be made real to those that prop it up. If China or India stopped buying cheap oil, Mr. Putin's war machine would grind to a halt.' 'I'm hoping for the best, but when it comes to the thug in Moscow, we should all prepare for more of the same.' The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Trump has expressed mounting frustrations with Putin's refusal to curtail strikes against Ukraine, but has stopped short of announcing tougher sanctions on the regime despite having threatened them earlier this month.
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First Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
As Putin rejects peace in Ukraine, US lawmakers seek 500% tariffs on Russia & its trade partners
As Vladimir Putin has refused to make peace and has instead ramped up attacks on Ukraine, US lawmakers have sought 500% tariffs on Russia and those countries that buy Russian energy products, such as oil, gas, and uranium. read more In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on April 26, 2025. AP Photo As Vladimir Putin has refused to make peace in Ukraine, US lawmakers have pressed for imposing 500 per cent tariffs on Russia and its trading partners. US lawmakers have increased their calls for such tariffs after Russia launched the largest aerial attack on Ukraine over the weekend. Ukraine on Monday said that Russia launched 357 drones and missiles into Ukraine the previous night that killed at least 12 people and injured 30. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even as these tariffs have bipartisan approval, Trump is unlikely to budge as he has aligned the administration completely with Russia. Since assuming office, he has humiliated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after inviting him to the White House, cut intelligence and military aid to Ukraine, called for Zelenskyy's ouster, reached out to his rivals, falsely accused him of starting the war, and parroted Russian propaganda. Despite such antagonistic treatment, Zelenskyy has accepted all three ceasefire proposals floated by Trump whereas Putin has rejected all of them. Even though Trump has rebuked Putin in social media posts, he has done nothing to pressure him. Instead, he has rewarded Putin by endorsing his position in the war. US lawmakers seek 500% tariffs on Russia, trading partners Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have sought 500 per cent tariffs on Russia and those countries buying Russian energy, such as oil, gas, and uranium. With such secondary sanctions, countries like India and China, which are major buyers of Russian oil, are bound to be affected. European countries that still buy Russian gas are also likely to be affected. The bill, formally called by the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, has been co-signed by 50 senators — 25 Democrats and Republicans each. It has been sponsored by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal. In addition to 500 per cent tariffs on all goods and services from Russia, the bill calls for 500 per cent tariffs on 'all goods or services imported into the United States' on a country that 'knowingly sells, supplies, transfers, or purchases oil, uranium, natural gas, petroleum products, or petrochemical products that originated in the Russian Federation'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These tariffs are not isolated actions but are part of a broader set of actions that the bill seeks. The bill further seeks sanctions on top Russian officials, including the president, the prime minister, the army chief, military chief, top state-owned companies, etc. Republican lawmakers press for sanctions on Russia Senior Republican lawmakers in both the Senate and House of Representatives have called for tougher sanctions on Russia to pressurise Putin into making peace. Sharing a post from Ukraine's foreign ministry about the Russian attacks over the weekend, Graham said, 'This latest outrage by Russia will not go unaddressed. Without China's support, Putin's war machine comes to a halt.' Republican Representative Don Bacon, the Chair of Cyber Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, told New York Post that 'it's beyond past time' that more powerful weapons are sent to Ukraine and more punishing sanctions are imposed on Russia. 'I'm glad President Trump is finally calling out Putin. It's beyond time to send them more lethal weapons. This Administration must act now. This war may have started as a Putin's invasion of Ukraine, but this is now under his watch. If Ukraine falls, it will always be known in the history books that it happened with Trump doing little to help Ukraine defend themselves with the means we have available,' said Bacon. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, the Chair of the House Ukraine Caucus, said on X, 'The United States cannot fail to respond as Putin escalates his barbaric assault on innocent Ukrainians. Congress must act — immediately and decisively. We need full, crippling sanctions — targeting Putin, his regime, and those bankrolling this campaign of terror — until the Russian war machine collapses in on itself.'
Axios
22-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Capitol Hill wants to get tougher on Russian oil and gas
More Senate Republicans are pushing for tough sanctions on Russian energy, and soon — but it's unclear if President Trump will ever share their zeal. Why it matters: Russian exports of oil, gas and other commodities provide lots of cash for the Kremlin's war on Ukraine. Driving the news: Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are up to 81 co-sponsors of their Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, they said Wednesday. The bill would impose 500% tariffs on U.S. imports from countries that buy Russian oil, gas and other goods. That would hit China, which has boosted Russian oil imports as the EU has shunned Russian barrels. State of play: Graham and Blumenthal, in a statement, said that if Russia continues to avoid serious peace negotiations, it "can expect decisive action" from the Senate. The bill would "hold China accountable for propping up [Vladimir] Putin's war machine by buying cheap Russian oil from the shadow fleet," they said. "Without China's economic support, Putin's war machine would come to a grinding halt." Yes, but: It's not clear if Trump will ever support tough new sanctions on Russia — and that seems needed for Senate GOP leadership to bring it up. Majority Leader John Thune is a co-sponsor of the bill, but signaled Monday he'll take his cues from Pennsylvania Avenue. "If the White House concludes that tougher sanctions are in order, we're here for it," he told reporters. His office didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on Wednesday. The White House declined to comment. New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the Foreign Relations Committee's top Democrat, told Axios' Hans Nichols on Wednesday: "We need to make it very clear to Vladimir Putin that we are going to increase the pressure on Russia, to get them to the table to resolve the war in Ukraine." Friction point: Some GOP Senate Republicans don't want to wait and "feel that they may have to make a move to hurry Trump along in the talks," Semafor reported Wednesday. Reuters reports that "Ukraine will ask the EU next week to consider big new steps to isolate Moscow, including seizing Russian assets and bringing in sanctions for some buyers of Russian oil." The EU already unveiled expanded sanctions on Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers earlier this week. Reality check: ClearView Energy Partners points out that the Trump administration has been signaling a "dovish posture" as it seeks to pause the Russia-Ukraine war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other Trump officials appear to be using Graham's bill as a "'bad cop' foil to the President's more amicable outreach," ClearView said in a note. But the research firm isn't ruling out a Senate "stampede" toward passage with a veto-proof majority. Catch up quick: Russia's invasion has closed off some markets for Kremlin-backed energy, but Moscow's revenues remain robust despite falling since 2022. carefully tracks the topic. What we're watching: The White House-Capitol Hill interplay.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
US threatens 'bone-crushing' sanctions on Russia including 500% oil tariff plan if Putin shuns Ukraine peace talks
The White House could soon impose 'bone-crushing' sanctions on Russia and punitive tariffs on countries that buy their oil and gas if Moscow fail to seriously engage in peace talks with Ukraine. Senator Lindsey Graham, a key ally of President Donald Trump, has claimed he has enough support for his bill that aims to force Vladimir Putin 's into talks with Kyiv. The proposal - announced on the same day that Ukraine and the US signed a minerals deal - would see a 500 per cent tariff on imports from countries that buy Russian oil, petroleum products, natural gas or uranium if Putin fails to come to the negotiating table. Trump has been keen to broker a permanent peace deal between Russia and Ukraine since taking office in January, even if it means Kyiv giving up territory. 'The goal is to help the president,' the South Carolina Senator said, adding that the measures were 'bone-crushing'. 'He talked about being frustrated. 'I want a negotiated end to the war, honorably and just. 'I think Trump's the best person to achieve that goal, but these sanctions represent the Senate's view that we see the primary bad guy being Russia.' Putin, he said, 'would be making a huge mistake to try to play Trump, so this bill is a tool in President Trump's toolbox. 'When President Trump believes that we've reached an impasse, then watch for action. 'Most members of the Senate believe that Putin has been resistant to finding a negotiated solution to the war, and has been brazen and barbaric in his actions against Ukraine. 'By co-sponsoring this bill I think a senator is making a pretty clear statement that they see Russia as the greatest offender here.' Named the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, the sanctions would be introduced on Russia if Moscow refuses to negotiate a peace agreement, violates a peace agreement or invades Ukraine again in the future. Graham predicted that his bill will have at least 67 co-sponsors from the Senate by the end of the week - enough to override a potential Presidential veto if Trump is against the plan. The list of current supporters is evenly divided between senators from both the Democrats and Republicans and notably includes Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Support has been boosted in recent weeks following Russian attacks on civlian populations in Ukraine, he suggested. Graham's office said that the tariffs would likely have the largest impact on India, China and Iran. It could also affect some European partners who still buy Russian goods. Moscow accounted for 17 per cent of gas and 18 per cent of liquefied-natural-gas imports to the European Union in 2024. The US-Ukraine deal signed today will provide Washington with privileged access to new investment projects to develop Ukraine's natural resources, including aluminum, graphite, oil and natural gas. It will also involve establishing a 'Reconstruction Investment Fund' for Ukraine, to spur Kyiv's economic recovery. Trump has so far avoided introducing any punitive measures against Russia despite the continuing assault on Ukraine. After Russia killed 12 civilians in Kyiv last month, the US President called the attack 'not necessary' and 'very bad timing,' appealing directly to Putin with 'Vladimir, Stop!' - but did not outline any consequences.
