US Senate pauses Russia sanctions bill
(MENAFN) A bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate aiming to impose severe tariffs on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy has been delayed and is unlikely to be considered this month, according to Semafor. The legislation, introduced by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, seeks to impose a 500% tariff on U.S. imports from nations that do not support Ukraine while buying Russian oil and gas.
The senators had hoped to pass the bill ahead of the G7 summit in Canada, emphasizing the urgency as recently as Sunday. However, the summit concluded on Tuesday without a meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, and with Trump leaving early.
Speaking to Semafor, Senator Graham said the legislation would be postponed due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, following Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. “That doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about Russia or Ukraine,” he added.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that July is now the more realistic timeline for debating the bill. In the meantime, Congress is preoccupied with Trump's economic plans, including tax cuts and federal spending proposals.
Although President Trump has suggested he may introduce fresh sanctions on Russia, he has taken a cautious stance, emphasizing the high economic cost of sanctions. “When I sanction a country, that costs the US a lot of money… Sanctions are not that easy. It’s not just a one-way street,” he stated during the G7 summit in Alberta.
Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration was urging lawmakers to modify the bill, preferring to give the president more control over sanction decisions instead of enforcing automatic penalties. The White House is reportedly concerned that the current version could hinder efforts to repair ties with Moscow.
Russian authorities, for their part, have brushed off the prospect of new sanctions, asserting that no level of external pressure or military aid to Ukraine will change their objectives in the ongoing conflict.
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