US Congress passes new Russia sanctions bill targeting China and India's oil purchases

The US House of Representatives voted 262 to 159 on Wednesday to approve a major new sanctions package targeting Russia, marking the most significant legislative action against Moscow since President Donald Trump returned to office. The Senate had already passed its version overwhelmingly, 86 to 11, last month, and Trump has signalled he intends to sign the bill into law.

The sanctions target Russia's energy and defence sectors, President Vladimir Putin and senior officials around him, and the so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers Moscow uses to bypass existing Western restrictions.

Tariff power aimed at China and India

A key feature of the legislation grants Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that keep buying large volumes of Russian oil and gas — a provision aimed primarily at China and India, two of Moscow's largest remaining energy customers.

That tariff clause caused friction even among Ukraine's supporters in Washington. Some Democrats backed tougher measures against Russia but objected to granting the president such sweeping trade authority. Gregory Meeks, the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticised how the bill was drafted, saying it favoured presidential tariff powers over firmer sanctions commitments; Republicans blocked efforts to amend that section. Despite the objections, most Democrats ultimately supported the bill, while a handful of Republicans voted against it on free-market grounds.

Kyiv welcomes move, India holds its position

The vote came the same day Russian drone strikes hit civilian transport in southern Ukraine, killing five people according to officials in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had directly lobbied Congress to pass the sanctions, saying in Washington in July that Russia was losing roughly 30,000 soldiers a month yet showed no sign of ending the war.

India responded on Thursday by confirming it would not change course, saying it would keep purchasing Russian oil through "diversified sourcing" based on evolving market conditions. Russia remains one of India's key strategic and military partners, complicating US efforts to economically isolate Moscow.

The legislation also targets companies and foreign entities supporting Russia's military effort and extends existing sanctions tied to Iran. Its passage followed more than a year of delay, reflecting Trump's general preference for keeping personal control over sanctions and tariff policy rather than ceding it to Congress. Ukrainian advocacy groups welcomed the bill's passage while calling for swift enforcement.