WASHINGTON — The United States Congress has approved a sweeping new sanctions package aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump for his signature.
The House of Representatives passed the measure by 262 votes to 159 after it had already cleared the Senate. The vote ends more than a year of delays surrounding legislation championed by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and represents one of the most significant congressional moves in support of Ukraine in more than two years.
The bill expands the US president’s ability to target the financial networks that help sustain Moscow’s war effort. It would permit tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries that continue buying Russian energy, including major importers such as China and India. It also provides for sanctions against Russian officials and banks, as well as vessels in the so-called shadow fleet used to keep Russian oil and other energy exports moving despite Western restrictions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had pressed American lawmakers to approve the measure and made a direct appeal to senators before the upper chamber passed it last month.
The House vote nevertheless exposed divisions in Washington over the powers granted to the White House. Fifty-eight Democrats joined a majority of Republicans in backing the legislation, while House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed it. Critics have argued that the tariff provisions could potentially be used against US allies and that the legislation gives the president considerable discretion over how aggressively the measures are enforced.
Supporters say the package is intended to reduce the revenue available to President Vladimir Putin’s government and increase pressure on Moscow to negotiate an end to the war. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the legislation was designed to place maximum economic pressure on Russia’s war effort.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who worked on the legislation with Graham, said supporters hoped the new sanctions would help push Putin towards negotiations.
The legislation now goes to Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.
Source: Al Jazeera. Read the original report.
