Key facts
- The U.S. House of Representatives voted to advance a bill imposing sweeping sanctions on Russian energy buyers on Sept. 15.
- The legislation would give the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas.
- The bill also targets five countries helping Moscow evade energy sanctions.
- The bill passed its final procedural vote on Sept. 15 by a narrow 214-211 margin.
- Democratic Reps. Don Beyer, Gregory Meeks, and Richard Neal condemned the bill, stating it would "do more harm than good."
- Former U.S Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul expressed concerns about the authority the bill would grant Trump but supported its passage for Ukraine's benefit.
- Ukraine's Presidential Sanctions Commissioner, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, advocated for the bill in Washington.
- The legislation would also impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials, major Russian financial institutions, and Russian state-owned companies.
- Sanctions would also target foreign entities supporting Russia's defense-industrial base and Moscow's "shadow fleet."
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Sept. 15 to advance a bill that would impose sweeping sanctions on Russian energy buyers, with a final vote scheduled for the following day. The legislation, originally championed by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, aims to penalize major purchasers of Russian oil and gas and countries that assist Moscow in circumventing existing sanctions.
The bill grants the U.S. president the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas, as well as on five countries identified as helping Russia evade energy sanctions. The list of targeted countries would be subject to review every 180 days, with potential exemptions for those importing less than 15% of Russia's total natural gas exports and actively reducing such imports.
While the Senate passed the bill with broad support in August, it faced more division in the House. Some Democrats, including Representatives Don Beyer, Gregory Meeks, and Richard Neal, voiced opposition on Sept. 11, arguing that the bill would expand presidential tariff powers without mandating specific sanctions on Russia, deeming it counterproductive. However, two Democrats, Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, voted in favor of advancing the bill, defying party leadership pressure.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul acknowledged concerns regarding the expanded presidential authority but ultimately supported the bill's passage, citing its positive symbolic value for Ukraine. Ukraine's Presidential Sanctions Commissioner, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, actively lobbied lawmakers in Washington for the legislation.
In addition to targeting energy buyers, the bill includes sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials, major Russian financial institutions like the Central Bank, Sberbank, and Gazprombank, and Russian state-owned companies. It also targets foreign entities supporting Russia's defense industry and its "shadow fleet" used for oil exports.