Trump Backs Revised Russia Sanctions Bill Threatening Up to 100% Tariffs on Top 5 Buyers of Russian Oil

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind a revised bipartisan Senate bill that would authorize tariffs of up to 100% on the world's top five buyers of Russian oil and natural gas, a significant softening from an earlier proposal that had floated tariffs as high as 500%.

The legislation, originally drafted by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, targets China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan — currently the largest purchasers of Russian crude and gas. A White House official confirmed Trump's backing for the bill, according to Republic World's Wednesday report.

What Changed From the Original Bill

The original Sanctioning Russia Act, introduced in April 2025, proposed tariffs of up to 500% on any country knowingly purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium or petroleum products, a provision that could have affected more than 60 countries. The revised version narrows the scope to five countries for oil and five for gas, with China facing tariffs on both categories, according to a Senate aide cited by CNN. Countries importing less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and demonstrably reducing those purchases would be exempt — a carve-out that could benefit Japan, France, Hungary and Belgium.

More Than Just Tariffs

Beyond the tariff provisions, the bill imposes broader blocking sanctions on Russia's energy, financial, defense and industrial sectors, including its shadow fleet of oil tankers, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, and major projects such as Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG. Senator Blumenthal said the legislation also contains secondary sanctions targeting entities engaged with Russia's defense industrial base, which could affect countries like Iran.

Timing Tied to Graham's Death

Graham died last week, a day after announcing in Ukraine that Trump had agreed to advance the bill following more than a year of negotiations. Trump described the legislation as a tribute to Graham at a White House appearance, saying there was "a good chance" it would pass. He also suggested Iran and Hezbollah-related sanctions could be folded into the bill, though Blumenthal pushed back, urging lawmakers to move forward with the current version rather than expanding its scope.

What It Means for India

India, among the largest importers of discounted Russian crude following Western sanctions on Moscow, remains a primary target under the revised bill, though the reduction from 500% to 100% tariffs represents a meaningful softening of the threat. The US Trade Representative would set the exact tariff rate, with senators indicating it would be calibrated to discourage continued purchases from Russia. It remains unclear when the Senate will bring the bill to a vote, though it has more than two dozen co-sponsors as of Tuesday.