500% tariffs on India? US Senator says THIS bill greenlit by Trump will impose penalties on countries buying from Russia

Mint

02-07-2025

United States Republican Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina told media that US President Donald Trump has greenlit a new 'tough' sanctions bill, that would penalise countries that continue to buy from Russia, Reuters reported.
The bill proposes 500 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, and India and China are the top customers, he added.
In response, Russia has said it took note of the comments, and warned of the move's impact on efforts towards a peace deal with Ukraine, the report said.
Graham said in an interview with ABC News on Sunday that President Donald Trump had told him that the sanctions bill - which would impose 500% tariffs on countries like China and India that buy Russian oil - should be brought forward for a vote.
Graham called Trump's decision "a big breakthrough" which he said was part of efforts to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table on Ukraine and give Trump "a tool" to bring that about.
He stressed however that Trump had a waiver and could decide whether or not to sign it into law if and when it passes Congress.
Asked about Graham's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia was aware of the U.S. senator's stance and had taken note of his statement.
"The senator's views are well known to us, they are well known to the whole world. He belongs to a group of inveterate Russophobes. If it were up to him, these sanctions would have been imposed long ago," said Peskov.
'Would that have helped the (Ukraine) settlement (process)? That is a question that those who initiate such events should ask themselves.'
The measure would impose 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. China and India account for about 70% of Russia's international energy business, which helps fund its war effort.
The bill, whose lead sponsors are Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, now has at least 82 co-sponsors in the 100-member Senate.
Graham has said the legislation would impose "bone-breaking sanctions" on Russia and its customers if Moscow does not engage in talks, or if it initiates another effort undermining Ukraine's sovereignty after any peace deal.
(With inputs from Reuters)