Graham's 'bone-crushing sanctions' against Russia spark split in US Congress
Illustrative photo: Sanctions against Russia (GettyImages)
A debate has erupted in the US Senate over a new sanctions bill against Russia. Democrats support pressure on Moscow but oppose expanding Donald Trump’s tariff authority, The Telegraph reports.
What sparked the dispute
A debate has erupted in the United States over proposed legislation that would impose tough restrictions on countries that continue to buy Russian oil.
According to US media reports, the Trump administration wants to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian crude. According to available information, the countries include China, India, and Türkiye.
Supporters of the proposal argue that the measure would cut off one of the Kremlin's main sources of revenue and increase economic pressure on Russia amid its war against Ukraine.
Why Democrats object
Although Democrats broadly support maintaining sanctions pressure on Moscow, some oppose the proposed mechanism. They argue that linking sanctions to expanded tariff authority could set a dangerous precedent by giving the president broader powers to impose tariffs.
"Trump has shown himself to abuse tariff authority in a really reckless way that’s causing harm to our economy. I know that we’ve been working to narrow that, so that’s what I’m going to be looking at," Senator Cory Booker said.
At the same time, Booker stressed that he believes continued support for Ukraine remains essential.
Senator Raphael Warnock expressed a similar view, saying that granting the president additional tariff powers would be "deeply concerning". Congressman Gregory Meeks also described the proposal as a "Trojan horse" for expanding the White House's authority over tariff policy.
Status of the bill
The legislation is based on a proposal previously introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham. The original version called for 500% tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, but the Trump administration later proposed reducing the rate to 100%.
According to media reports, the bill could be brought to a Senate vote as early as next week if it secures the backing of all senators.
What Republicans say
Republicans have criticized the Democrats' position. Senator Katie Britt argued that the disagreement is putting support for Ukraine at risk.
"Do they hate Trump more than they actually want to help Ukraine?" Britt said.
Senator Jerry Moran, meanwhile, described the dispute over the sanctions initiative as "sad."
At the same time, the Trump administration continues to rely on tariff measures. After a Supreme Court ruling limited part of the previously imposed tariffs, the White House announced new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on dozens of countries, arguing they are necessary to combat the use of forced labor.
Earlier, the European Union said it may abandon the practice of adopting large-scale sanctions packages against Russia. Instead, Brussels is considering shifting to more targeted and flexible restrictions in an effort to make its sanctions policy more effective.
