US revives Russia sanctions push, putting India under renewed pressure over oil imports

In a move with potential implications for India, four bipartisan US senators announced on Friday that they had reached an agreement with the Trump administration to advance legislation aimed at imposing sanctions on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy.

The announcement was made by Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Roger Wicker, along with Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Jeanne Shaheen. In a joint statement, they said the updated legislation would soon be introduced to increase pressure on nations buying Russian oil and natural gas.

“As Russia intensifies its slaughter of civilians, it is imperative that the legislative and executive branches work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine,” the senators said.

The proposed Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 would authorize steep US tariffs on goods and services imported from countries purchasing Russian-origin oil, natural gas, uranium and petroleum products. Earlier versions of the bill proposed tariffs as high as 500%, though US media reports indicate the measure has since been softened. The final details of the revised legislation are yet to be released.

The bill also allows the US president to grant a 180-day waiver if doing so is deemed in America’s national security interest.

The legislation enjoys broad bipartisan backing, with 84 senators listed as co-sponsors. It gained momentum after President Donald Trump indicated he was considering the measure as a way to pressure Russia into negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

India in focus

India has been directly mentioned by supporters of the bill. In June 2025, Senator Lindsey Graham warned that countries such as India and China could face consequences if they continued purchasing Russian energy.

India has continued importing Russian crude even after a temporary US Treasury licence permitting such purchases expired on June 17, raising the possibility that New Delhi could be affected if the legislation is enacted.