The US Senate has taken a major step toward imposing tougher sanctions on Russia by advancing a bill that could have significant implications for India and several other countries. The proposed legislation, which aims to increase economic pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine war, includes a provision that could authorize tariffs of up to 100% on countries continuing to purchase Russian energy. India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan are among the nations that could be affected if the bill eventually becomes law. The Senate approved a procedural vote by 86-12, allowing the legislation to move forward for further consideration. The development came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the US Capitol, where he met lawmakers to discuss continued American support for Ukraine. While the Senate vote is an important milestone, the bill has not yet become law and must still complete the remaining legislative process before any measures can take effect.

The sanctions bill was originally introduced in April 2025 by the late Senator Lindsey Graham and seeks to tighten economic restrictions on Russia while discouraging other countries from relying on Russian oil and gas. India has emerged as one of the world's largest buyers of Russian crude oil, second only to China, especially after disruptions in global energy markets. The country's dependence on Russian supplies increased following the conflict in West Asia, which affected shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and reduced the availability of crude oil from the Gulf region. According to the proposed legislation, countries continuing to import significant quantities of Russian energy could face steep tariffs on exports to the United States. Earlier, Senator Richard Blumenthal had indicated that limited exemptions could be considered for countries whose purchases of Russian gas remain below a specified threshold. However, no final exemptions have been confirmed as the bill is still under consideration.

The proposal comes against the backdrop of already strained trade ties between India and the United States. In August 2025, the US imposed an additional 25% tariff on certain Indian goods over India's continued energy trade with Russia, taking the total tariff burden on some products to 50%. Those measures had slowed trade negotiations between the two countries. Later, during the energy crisis triggered by the conflict involving Iran and disruptions in the Gulf, the United States announced a temporary waiver that allowed countries, including India, to continue purchasing Russian crude under specific conditions. Since then, India's imports of Russian oil have increased significantly as refiners sought stable and affordable supplies. If the newly proposed sanctions bill is ultimately passed in its current form, it could have far-reaching consequences for India's trade and energy strategy. However, government officials in both countries are expected to continue diplomatic discussions before any final decision is implemented, and the exact impact will depend on the final version of the legislation and any exemptions that may be included.

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.