As Vladimir Putin refuses to accept peace proposals in Ukraine, US lawmakers have pushed for imposing 500% tariffs on Russia and countries trading with it. This comes after Russia launched its largest aerial attack yet on Ukraine. Though the proposed bill enjoys bipartisan support, President Donald Trump is unlikely to enforce it.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has aligned the administration with Russia. He has cut military aid to Ukraine, humiliated President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and echoed Kremlin propaganda.
Despite this, Zelenskyy has accepted three ceasefire proposals from Trump. Vladimir Putin, however, has rejected them all. Now, US lawmakers demand action. They want tough sanctions on Russia and its trading partners, including India and China, to stop the war machine.
Bipartisan Tariff Bill Gains Momentum
The proposed legislation is called the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025. It has strong bipartisan backing — co-signed by 50 senators, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham sponsors the bill, with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal as co-sponsor.
The bill demands 500% tariffs on all Russian goods and services. It also imposes the same on any country that continues buying Russian energy — oil, gas, uranium, or petrochemical products.
Secondary Tariffs May Hit Global Partners
The bill targets not just Russia but its trade enablers. Countries like India and China, who buy large quantities of Russian oil, will be affected. So will several European countries still reliant on Russian gas. The goal is to isolate Russia economically until it accepts peace in Ukraine.
Republicans Lead Push for Sanctions
Top Republican lawmakers have increased pressure on the White House. Senator Graham condemned Russia’s attack over the weekend and said the response would be strong. He added, “Without China’s support, Putin’s war machine comes to a halt.”
Representative Don Bacon criticized Trump’s passive stance. He said, “It’s beyond time to send Ukraine more lethal weapons. If Ukraine falls, it will be remembered that Trump did little to help.”
Trump’s Pro-Russia Stance Draws Fire
Trump has shown little interest in standing up to Putin. He invited Zelenskyy only to humiliate him. He slashed intelligence and military support for Ukraine. He falsely blamed Zelenskyy for the war and supported his rivals.
Though he has issued occasional rebukes to Putin online, he has not imposed real consequences. Instead, he has effectively endorsed Russia’s narrative and position.
Fight for Ukraine and the Global Order
Representative Brian Fitzpatrick called for immediate action. He urged Congress to deliver “crippling sanctions” that could collapse the Russian war machine. With Putin escalating attacks and Trump showing no urgency, the responsibility now rests with Congress.
If the United States fails to act decisively, it risks enabling more chaos in Ukraine — and weakening its global credibility.
