The Donald Trump-led US administration is reportedly preparing to impose stringent new sanctions on Russia as efforts continue to end the Russia-Ukraine war that began in 2022.
At the centre of the move is the proposed Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill that seeks to impose sweeping tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries continuing trade with Moscow. The legislation proposes tariffs of up to 500% on nations that knowingly engage in the exchange of Russian-origin petroleum products and uranium.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said President Trump has approved the bill to move forward after a meeting held on Wednesday. According to reports, the legislation has been under discussion for several months and could come up for a vote in the US Congress as early as next week.
The bill has been drafted primarily by Graham along with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. It aims to cut off funding for Russia&rsquo;s military operations by targeting countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium and other key exports.
Graham said the proposed law would give the US president the authority to penalise nations that continue buying discounted Russian oil, which he claimed is helping finance Moscow&rsquo;s war efforts. He added that the legislation would create significant leverage over countries such as China, India and Brazil, encouraging them to halt energy imports from Russia.
The timing of the sanctions push is being linked to ongoing diplomatic efforts, with the US administration attempting to broker peace between Moscow and Kyiv. Ending the war has been a key foreign policy pledge of Trump, who had earlier said he wanted to prioritise negotiations over punitive measures.
However, according to reports, progress on the sanctions bill had previously slowed as Trump explored diplomatic channels to secure a ceasefire. The renewed momentum suggests a shift towards stronger economic pressure amid concerns that Russia is not making meaningful concessions.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump&rsquo;s son-in-law, are reportedly playing key roles in negotiations related to the Ukraine conflict, even as Congress considers the tougher sanctions framework.

Proposed law targets countries buying Russian oil amid Ukraine war talks

Trump Backs Tough Russia Sanctions Bill in US

Proposed law targets countries buying Russian oil amid Ukraine war talks

January 8, 2026 | 15:45 IST