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US Senators Propose 500% Tariffs on Countries Purchasing Russian Oil and Gas

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Maryna_kulakova
Maryna Kulakova
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US Senators Propose 500% Tariffs on Countries Purchasing Russian Oil and Gas
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, speaks during a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, January 16, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

A bipartisan bill was introduced in the US Senate, led by Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal, aimed at imposing sanctions on Russia if the Kremlin undermines US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts regarding Ukraine.

This was announced in a statement on Senator Blumenthal’s official website on April 1.

The sanctions, backed by 50 US senators, would be enforced if peace negotiations fail or if an agreement is reached but Russia violates it.

Among the proposed punishments are 500% tariffs on imports from countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products.

“The dominating view in the United States Senate is that Russia is the aggressor, and that this horrific war and Putin’s aggression must end now and be deterred in the future,” the statement reads.

Earlier, it was reported that US President Donald Trump expressed frustration over Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s delay in peace talks. Senators who support the bill on primary and secondary sanctions share this same frustration.

“We share President Trump’s frustration with Russia when it comes to obtaining a ceasefire, and support President Trump’s desire to achieve a lasting, just and honorable peace,” the senators stated.

“In 1994, as part of the Budapest Memorandum Ukraine gave up approximately 1,700 nuclear weapons with a promise from the US, Russia and United Kingdom that Ukraine’s sovereignty would be honored in the future. This failed to deter Russian aggression.”

The legislators noted that the Minsk agreements, reached in 2014 and 2015, were intended to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but ultimately failed to prevent further aggression. They added that in 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine once more, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions.

“It is our hope that in 2025, President Trump and his team will achieve what has eluded the world in the past: ending Russian aggression against Ukraine permanently and ensuring the survivability of a free and democratic Ukraine. These sanctions against Russia are at the ready and will receive overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support if presented to the Senate and House for a vote,” the legislators concluded.

Previously, it was announced that Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s National Wealth Fund, is set to visit Washington this week for a meeting with US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, CNN and Reuters reported on April 1, citing sources.

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