Trump signs bill targeting top buyers of Russian oil and gas

President Donald Trump signed a 48-page sanctions measure that authorises tariffs of up to 100% on the five biggest purchasers of Russian oil and gas, chiefly China and India. The legislation, named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, also targets Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior officials, financial institutions and a fleet of tankers used to evade existing sanctions.

The bill includes carve-outs for nations that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are actively diversifying their energy supplies. Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air show that China accounted for half of Russian crude exports between December 2022 and August 2026, with India receiving 37%, while Turkey and the European Union each took about 5%.

Senator Richard Blumenthal described the measure as "scorching sanctions" that would "throttle Putin's war machine." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the House passage, noting its timing on the night of a Russian missile and drone attack. The bill reflects Senator Graham’s long-standing push for stronger action against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.