Key facts
- US Congress approved a Russia sanctions bill late Wednesday.
- The bill would impose mandatory sanctions on Russia's leadership, energy sector, defense industry, and "shadow fleet."
- The bill empowers President Trump to sanction the top five global purchasers of embargoed Russian fuel.
- China, India, and the EU are major purchasers of Russian fuel.
- China bought 50% of Russian crude exports since 2022, India 37%, and the EU 5%.
- The EU is also the largest buyer of Russian LNG and pipeline gas.
The US Congress has approved a sanctions bill targeting Russia's energy sector and its "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, prompting swift defiance from key global fuel customers. The legislation, awaiting President Donald Trump's signature, would impose mandatory sanctions on Moscow's energy industry and empower the president to levy full sanctions on the top five global purchasers of Russian fuel.
China, a major buyer of Russian crude, has called the bill illegal "long-arm jurisdiction" and stated its trade relations are not subject to third-party interference. India has also vowed to protect its trade and economic interests, having previously articulated the potential impact of such measures on its relationship with Washington. The European Union, the largest buyer of Russian LNG and pipeline gas, has not yet publicly commented.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that the bill would prolong the war in Ukraine and complicate peace settlement efforts. Critics argue the bill grants Trump excessive discretion, potentially allowing him to issue waivers for countries with whom the US seeks trade deals or to target allies like the EU based on their energy purchases.