Washington, D.C.: A bipartisan group of four US senators has announced that it has reached an agreement with the Trump administration to move forward with updated legislation aimed at imposing sanctions on countries purchasing Russian energy. The proposal, if enacted, could have significant implications for major importers of Russian oil, including India, which has continued to rely on discounted Russian crude since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The announcement was made jointly by Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Roger Wicker, along with Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Jeanne Shaheen. In a statement, the lawmakers said they had achieved “significant progress” in advancing the revised Russia sanctions legislation and expected to formally introduce the updated version soon.
The senators argued that stronger economic measures are necessary as Russia continues its military campaign in Ukraine. They stated that both the legislative and executive branches of the US government must work together to impose substantial costs on countries purchasing Russian oil and natural gas, which they said helps finance Moscow’s war efforts.
The proposed legislation builds upon the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, a bill that has gained broad bipartisan backing in the US Senate. The original version proposed imposing tariffs of up to 500% on goods and services imported from countries purchasing Russian-origin oil, natural gas, uranium, and petroleum products. Senator Richard Blumenthal had previously described the proposed tariff as “bone-crushing.”
However, media reports in the United States suggest that the legislation has since undergone revisions, including possible modifications to the tariff provisions. The final details of the updated bill have not yet been made public. Importantly, the proposal retains a provision allowing the US President to grant a 180-day waiver to specific countries if doing so is deemed to be in the national security interests of the United States.
The sanctions bill has received strong support in Congress, with 84 senators reportedly signing on as co-sponsors. Interest in the legislation increased after US President Donald Trump indicated that he was considering the measure as part of broader efforts to pressure Russia into negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. Despite earlier indications of White House backing, the legislation has remained pending for more than a year since it was first introduced.
For India, the renewed push for the bill carries particular significance. The country has become one of the largest buyers of Russian crude oil following Western sanctions on Moscow, taking advantage of discounted prices to meet its growing energy requirements. India has consistently maintained that its energy procurement decisions are guided by national interests, affordability, and energy security.
Senator Lindsey Graham has previously identified both India and China as key targets of the proposed legislation. In a post on social media platform X in June 2025, he warned that countries continuing to support Russia through energy purchases would face consequences under the proposed sanctions framework.
India also continued importing Russian oil after the US Treasury issued a temporary general licence following the US-Iran conflict, permitting such purchases without triggering sanctions. That licence, however, expired on June 17, potentially reviving concerns over future restrictions if the new legislation is approved.
