Donald Trump -backed US sanctions bill may impose a 500% tariff on India for buying Russian oil.

According to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a noted defense hawk, US President Donald Trump has “greenlit” the bipartisan Russia Sanctions Bill, which may be used to penalize Moscow’s trading allies, including India, China, and Brazil, for purchasing Russian oil.

If the Graham-Blumenthal sanctions bill is adopted, the US President will be able to impose tariffs of up to 500 percent on nations who knowingly acquire Russian oil or uranium and “fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war machine”. The harsh sanctions package is intended to economically hurt Moscow while the Trump administration continues to negotiate a settlement to the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Graham said he spoke with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, and the President expressed support for the plan, which has been in the works for months.

“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making compromises for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent,” Graham said during a phone interview.

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Graham stated that a vote might take place as early as next week, but it is unclear how realistic this is. If the House passes a scaled-back government funding bill next week, the Senate is expected to take it up. The Senate will be recessing the next week in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

About the Russia Sanctions Bill

The law, mostly drafted by Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, authorizes the administration to apply tariffs and secondary penalties of up to 500 percent on countries that buy Russia’s oil, gas, uranium, and other products. This is intended to cut off the source of funding for much of Russia’s military operations.

The White House has previously requested amendments and flexibility for Trump in the sanctions package, but it is unclear whether any changes were made.

The legislation has dozens of Senate co-sponsors and a House companion bill drafted by Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick.

Donald Trump administration is currently trying to finalize a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine.

The Trump administration is currently attempting to finalize a peace accord to end Ukraine’s almost four-year war, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, serving as the president’s top negotiators.