Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked US senators after the Senate advanced a major Russia sanctions bill that could expose India and four other countries to tariffs of up to 100% over their purchases of Russian energy. Zelensky, who is currently in Washington, was present at the US Capitol and watched the procedural vote from the Senate gallery. The legislation cleared the crucial stage with an 86-12 bipartisan vote, moving it closer to further consideration. Following the vote, Zelensky described the proposed sanctions as an important step in maintaining economic pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. He said the legislation was not only about restricting Russia's ability to finance the conflict but also carried a wider “moral signal” for Ukraine and Europe. For India, however, the bill could become a significant trade concern because the country remains one of the world's biggest buyers of Russian crude oil.

The legislation was championed by the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Washington's most vocal supporters of Ukraine, and was first introduced in April 2025. The Senate vote took place on the day of Graham's funeral, giving the proceedings additional symbolic significance. Zelensky said it was meaningful that senators advanced a measure Graham had worked extensively on and described the vote as a first step towards implementing his plans. Before Graham's death, he and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal had announced an agreement with the White House on the sanctions legislation. The bill is designed to increase economic pressure on Russia by targeting not only Russian officials and entities but also major international purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas. Under the proposal, the US president would be authorised to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the five largest buyers of Russian energy, a group that includes India and China. The legislation also contains provisions for certain exemptions, including for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia while taking additional steps to reduce that dependence.

The bill could have major implications for India-US trade relations if it completes the legislative process and is implemented in its current form. India is the second-largest purchaser of Russian crude after China and has relied heavily on discounted Russian supplies in recent years. Washington had already imposed an additional 25% tariff on India in August 2025 over its Russian oil purchases, pushing tariffs on some Indian goods to 50%. The latest proposal raises the possibility of even steeper trade barriers at a time when New Delhi and Washington are still negotiating a bilateral trade agreement. Those negotiations are aimed at reducing the overall tariff burden on Indian exports, but fresh sanctions linked to Russian energy could complicate the discussions. India has consistently defended its energy purchases on the grounds of national interest, energy security and affordability. For now, the 100% tariff is a potential measure rather than an immediate levy, as the sanctions bill still has to complete the remaining legislative steps and any eventual action would depend on how its provisions are implemented. The Senate vote nevertheless increases pressure on countries maintaining substantial energy ties with Moscow and puts India's Russian oil strategy back at the centre of the debate in Washington.