US Senators Claim Deal with Trump to Tighten Sanctions on Russian Energy

Four United States senators announced on Friday that they had reached an agreement with President Donald Trump to advance bipartisan legislation targeting countries that purchase Russian energy. The move could strengthen pressure on Moscow over its ongoing war in Ukraine.

Republicans Lindsey Graham and Roger Wicker, along with Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Jeanne Shaheen, issued a joint statement expressing their intent to unveil the updated legislation 'very soon.' The senators emphasised the urgency of the measure, noting Russia's continued military actions in Ukraine.

'As Russia intensifies its slaughter of civilians, it is imperative that the legislative and executive branches work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine,' the statement said.

The legislation, under negotiation for months, has faced delays due to a lukewarm response from the White House and Trump's shifting approach towards Russian President Vladimir Putin. The bill would grant the president authority to impose tariffs and sanctions on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy, a key revenue source for Moscow's war effort. Major buyers of Russian oil include China and India, though the senators did not release specifics of the revised bill.

An earlier version of the proposal envisaged tariffs of up to 500 percent on imports from countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products. The current agreement follows signs that Trump has grown frustrated with Russia's reluctance to negotiate an end to the conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

At a Group of Seven summit in France in June, Trump stated that Russia should 'make a deal' and indicated that Washington could restore temporarily waived sanctions on Russian oil. The president has sought to maintain relations with Putin while occasionally criticising both Moscow and Kyiv, but has recently adopted a warmer tone towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during meetings.

The senators' announcement does not guarantee swift passage, and the White House did not immediately comment publicly on the agreement. However, administration support could remove the most significant political obstacle to a bill that has attracted backing from lawmakers in both parties.