The US House just passed a huge new sanctions bill against Russia. It now heads to President Trump's desk, and he's expected to sign it. This is the biggest US move against Moscow since Trump took office again.
Quick Take
- House vote: 262 to 159. Senate already passed it 86 to 11 last month.
- Targets: Russia's energy and defense industries, President Putin, his top officials, and the "shadow fleet" of oil tankers Russia uses to dodge sanctions.
- New power: Trump can slap tariffs (extra taxes on imports) up to 100% on countries that keep buying lots of Russian oil and gas.
- China and India are the main targets of that tariff rule. They buy huge amounts of Russian oil.
- India says it won't stop buying Russian oil, no matter what.
What's Actually In The Bill
This bill goes after the money that keeps Russia's war machine running. It hits Russia's energy and defense sectors hard. It also names Putin and the officials around him directly.
There's also a "shadow fleet" crackdown. That's the group of ships Russia uses to sell oil while dodging existing Western rules. The bill also adds new sanctions tied to Iran and targets companies that help Russia's military, wherever they are based.
The Tariff Power Is The Big Deal
The most talked-about part gives Trump the power to place tariffs (import taxes) as high as 100% on any country still buying big volumes of Russian oil and gas. That's aimed straight at China and India, Russia's two largest oil customers left.
The bill grants the president power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying large volumes of Russian oil and gas.
Even some Democrats who want Russia punished didn't love this part. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the bill leans too much on giving Trump tariff power instead of locking in firm sanctions. He said he'd have backed it if that part were removed, but Republicans blocked changes. Most Democrats voted yes anyway. A few Republicans voted no, saying it messes with free trade.
Ukraine Wants It Fast, India Isn't Budging
The vote came right after Russian drone strikes hit civilian transport in southern Ukraine, killing five people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had pushed Congress hard for this bill, saying Russia loses about 30,000 soldiers a month but still won't stop fighting.
India responded fast: it said it will keep buying Russian oil, calling its purchases part of "diversified sourcing" based on market conditions. Russia is one of India's key military and strategic partners, which makes this tariff threat tricky for Washington to enforce.
Svitlana Romanko of the group Razom We Stand said quick enforcement matters most now.
"Every day of delay is a day we in Ukraine must bury more people," she said.
Why It Matters
This bill gives Trump serious leverage over countries funding Russia's war through oil purchases. But if China and India refuse to change course, the real test becomes whether the US actually uses these new tariff powers — and how the world reacts if it does.
Source: Euronews.com
