Trump signs broad Russia sanctions bill

US President Donald Trump signed into law a package of new sanctions against Russia named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, the White House said on Friday.

Earlier, the bill passed Congress with large bipartisan majorities: 86-11 in the Senate and 262-159 in the House.

The comprehensive sanctions package is intended to punish and pressure Moscow for its ongoing war against Ukraine.

In addition to the sanctions on Russia, the law establishes a framework to maintain sanctions on Iran until 2031.

What sanctions does the bill include?

The bill targets Russian officials and key sectors of the Russian economy, including banks, and a fleet of shadow tankers that transport Russian energy.

It also instructs Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas. However, some countries are exempt.

The US president can also impose sanctions on the five countries that do the most to help Russia circumvent energy sanctions.

These measures could further strain US trade relations with China and India, both of which buy significant amounts of Russian oil.

How India has become Russia's trade lifeline

What are the reactions?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Trump for signing the bill, as well as all the senators and members of the House of Representatives who supported it.

"When Lindsey Graham was here in Ukraine, he would always talk about how important it was not to ease pressure on Russia, to strengthen sanctions and seek a path to peace," he wrote on X.

Graham, who played a leading role in advancing the bill, was a staunch supporter of Ukraine. The senator had just returned from Ukraine when he unexpectedly passed away in July.

"The best way to honor Lindsey's memory will be to implement the provisions of this law fully and swiftly. And the best reward for everyone helping us put pressure on Russia to end its war will be peace," Zelenskyy added.

Before Trump signed the bill, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that additional US sanctions would hinder efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution in Ukraine.

Edited by: Sean Sinico

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