US President Donald Trump has endorsed a Senate bill that could introduce up to 500% tariffs on countries such as India and China that continue to import Russian oil and energy products. The proposed legislation aims to target nations financially supporting Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Senator Lindsey Graham, who is sponsoring the sanctions legislation, revealed in an interview with ABC News on Sunday that Trump had asked him to push the bill forward for a vote.
“Big breakthrough here. So what does this bill do? If you’re buying products from Russia and you’re not helping Ukraine, then there’s a 500% tariff on your products coming into the United States. India and China buy 70% of Putin’s oil. They keep his war machine going,” Graham told ABC.
Graham Says Tariff Bill Will Pressure Putin and Aid Ukraine
Graham described Trump’s backing of the bill as a “big breakthrough”, noting that the measure would serve as a strategic tool to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into negotiations over Ukraine.
“I’ve got 84 co-sponsors for a Russian sanctions bill that is an economic bunker buster against China, India, and Russia for Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. I think that bill’s going to pass,” Graham had said in an earlier statement.
Although Trump supports the legislation, Graham clarified that the final decision to sign it into law will rest with Trump if and when the bill passes through Congress, as he holds the authority to issue a waiver.
India, China Major Buyers of Russian Fossil Fuels
According to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, India ranked as the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in May 2025, with purchases worth an estimated €4.2 billion. Of that, crude oil accounted for 72%. China and India combined purchase nearly 70% of Russia’s oil exports, according to Graham—fueling the country’s ongoing military campaign.
Kremlin Criticizes Graham’s “Russophobic” Remarks
In response to Graham’s statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the senator’s position, saying Russia had taken note of his views.
“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.
He further questioned whether such punitive measures would actually advance peace in Ukraine.
“Would that have helped the (Ukraine) settlement (process)? That is a question that those who initiate such events should ask themselves,” he added.
Bill Signals Tighter Economic Pressure Amid Ukraine War
The proposed legislation marks a dramatic escalation in US efforts to deter countries from supporting Russia economically. If passed, it would allow the US to impose crippling import tariffs on any nation that continues business with Russia while staying neutral or silent on the Ukraine conflict.
Trump’s endorsement of the bill may significantly impact US trade relations with key partners like India and China, both of whom have avoided condemning Russia outright and have increased their energy imports from Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine began.
As the bill gains momentum with bipartisan support, all eyes are on how affected countries—and Moscow—will respond if it passes into law.
