In a post on X, US Senator Lindsey Graham said the move comes amid ongoing peace negotiations over Ukraine and indicated that the legislation could be taken up for a bipartisan vote as early as next week
Earlier, President Donald Trump had claimed that PM Narendra Modi was unhappy over the high tariffs imposed on India. File pic
US Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday (local time) said that President Donald Trump has given the green light to a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that would provide the White House leverage against countries such as India, China, and Brazil to stop them from purchasing Russian oil and punish nations “fueling Putin’s war machine".
In a post on X, Graham said the move comes amid ongoing peace negotiations over Ukraine and indicated that the legislation could be taken up for a bipartisan vote as early as next week.
After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 7, 2026
This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace…
“After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others. This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent,” Graham said.
“This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil, fueling Putin’s war machine. This bill would give President Trump tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil to incentivise them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that provides the financing for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine. I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week,” he added.
According to the official website of the US Congress, the proposed legislation, titled the Sanctioning of Russia Act of 2025, seeks to impose multiple punitive measures, including penalties on individuals and entities and an increase in the rate of duty on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States (US) to at least 500 per cent of their value, news agency ANI reported.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met members of the US delegation, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, during which both sides discussed a diplomatic approach towards ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Earlier, President Trump had claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unhappy over the high tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil.
Trump highlights tension over India’s Russian oil purchases, says relations with Modi remain good
Speaking at the House Grand Old Party (GOP) Member Retreat, Trump said that while relations remain cordial, the tariff issue has created some tension.
“I have a very good relationship with PM Modi, but he is not happy with me as India is paying high tariffs. But now they have reduced it very substantially, buying oil from Russia,” Trump said.
The tariffs, totalling 50 per cent, were imposed due to India’s significant purchases of Russian oil, which the US views as supporting Russia’s economy amid the Ukraine conflict.
Trump’s remarks came a day after he warned that Washington could further raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi does not address US concerns over Russian oil imports, ANI reported.
“They wanted to make me happy, basically. Modi is a very good man; he is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy,” Trump said.
India has earlier rejected Trump’s assertion that Prime Minister Modi had assured him that New Delhi would stop purchasing Russian oil, clarifying that no such conversation or assurance had taken place.
(With ANI inputs)
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