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A bipartisan group of lawmakers have introduced a sanctions bill aimed at pressuring Russia to engage in “real” peace negotiations with Ukraine, warning that failure to do so will trigger brutal economic penalties that make previous sanctions look like a joke.
Some shit you should know before you read: Right now, Russia is already under a shitload of international sanctions imposed by a coalition of Western and allied nations—including the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, and others—in response to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions have hit key pillars of Russia’s economy, including its financial sector, energy exports, defense industry, and access to advanced technologies. Major Russian banks have been cut off from the SWIFT payment system, the central bank’s foreign reserves have been frozen, and hundreds of Russian oligarchs, officials, and entities have been blacklisted. The Biden administration initially led the charge by banning Russian oil and gas imports, restricting semiconductors and high-tech equipment exports, and freezing individuals’ assets close to Putin. The US also worked with allies to enforce oil price caps and crack down on sanction evasion, all aimed at severely limiting Moscow’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have come together to introduce a bipartisan sanctions bill aimed at pushing Russia into negotiating a lasting peace deal with Ukraine. Led by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the bill would impose both primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and any entities that support or facilitate its war in Ukraine. The penalties would automatically kick in if Russia refuses to enter meaningful peace talks or violates any agreed-upon deal.
One of the bill’s most notable features is a 500% tariff on imported goods from countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, uranium, or other critical exports. That could hit countries like India, China, and Turkey hard, as they’ve continued purchasing Russian oil at discounted rates.
In a joint statement, the Senators said, “The dominating view in the United States Senate is that Russia is the aggressor and that this horrific war and Putin’s aggression must end now and be deterred in the future.”
The bill, which has 50 original co-sponsors evenly split between both parties, marks a rare moment of unity in Congress. Supporters also emphasized that any future peace deal must include robust enforcement mechanisms and strong deterrents against renewed Russian aggression.
This all comes as India—the world’s largest buyer of Russian crude—has already begun seeking alternative suppliers, fearing that US sanctions could disrupt its energy imports. Indian state-run refiners like Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum have placed orders for May deliveries from other regions, including the Middle East, North Sea, and Mediterranean.
