Trump signs Bill authorising sweeping Russia sanctions

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Sept 18 signed a Bill authorising new sanctions designed to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine, after Congress gave its approval after months of delay.

Washington is pushing to revive a mediated path towards ending the conflict as Moscow intensifies attacks against Ukraine, even though much of its attention – and munitions – are focused on the ongoing war against Iran.

The legislation, which US lawmakers approved this week, takes aim at Russia’s energy and defence sectors, alongside President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials. It also targets Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to evade Western sanctions, and allows Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.

That could potentially cover China and India, and furthers efforts to cut off revenue financing Moscow’s war.

The Republican-led House of Representatives passed the package by a 262-159 vote on Sept 16.

The Bill would also target companies and foreign actors supporting Russia’s military, and extend sanctions involving Iran.

But the broad powers to impose tariffs sparked an unusual split among Democrats, who largely support Ukraine but have resisted handing Trump wider authority over trade.

Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev said on Sept 19 that the country’s response to the sanctions should involve “military deterrence”.

Medvedev, a senior ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and one of Moscow’s most prominent anti-Western hawks, did not elaborate on his remarks.

“Even across the ocean, they hear only the language of direct military deterrence, and that is the language in which we should respond to Russophobic atrocities, such as the law of the dead terrorist, Graham,” Medvedev, who now serves as deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, said on Telegram.

Medvedev, who served as Russia’s head of state between 2008 and 2012, was referring to the late US senator Lindsey Graham, whom the Bill is named after.

Since Moscow launched its full-scale offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, Russian officials including Putin have described Ukraine and its supporters as “terrorists”, accusations dismissed by Kyiv as baseless wartime propaganda.

Tougher pressure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier hailed the legislation as “symbolic” and thanked US lawmakers.

The Bill is “an extremely powerful tool that can stop this terrorist war and bring Russia to the point where it has to make peace”, Zelensky wrote on X.

“Sanctions must be strong so that all efforts for peace – including our joint diplomatic efforts with the United States, Europe, and our other friends – can succeed,” he added.

India said on Sept 17 it would continue buying oil “through diversified sourcing”.

New Delhi – which counts Russia as one of its most important strategic partners – has navigated the energy crisis sparked by the US-Iran conflict in part by turning to Moscow, despite pressure from Western countries.

Supporters of the legislation argued that tougher economic pressure is needed against Moscow.

The congressional vote was celebrated by pro-Ukraine activists, who pointed to continuing Russian attacks, including drone strikes on Sept 16 on civilian transport in the south that officials in Kyiv said killed five people.

Trump has generally preferred to retain control over sanctions and tariffs rather than have Congress dictate policy, helping delay the measure for more than a year.

The President’s signing of the Bill comes a week before he is due to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Washington. AFP