The United States Senate has advanced a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that could expose India and four other countries to tariffs of up to 100% over their continued imports of Russian energy. The legislation, aimed at increasing economic pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict, cleared a key procedural vote with 86 senators voting in favour and 12 against.
The sanctions bill, introduced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, moved forward as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Capitol Hill for meetings with US lawmakers. If enacted, the legislation would authorise sanctions against Russian officials and impose steep tariffs on countries that continue to rely heavily on Russian oil and gas.
Besides India, the proposed measure targets China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan, all of which have maintained significant energy ties with Russia despite Western sanctions.
India’s inclusion comes at a time when its dependence on Russian crude has increased following disruptions in global energy supplies caused by the conflict in West Asia. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-US conflict significantly affected Gulf oil shipments, prompting Indian refiners to source more crude from Russia.
According to the report, India’s imports of Russian crude oil surged by 34% in June 2026, reaching record levels. Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) estimated these imports at €4.5 billion, accounting for nearly 36% of Russia’s crude oil export revenues during the period.
The proposed legislation also follows an earlier move by US President Donald Trump, who in August 2025 imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods over New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. That decision increased total US tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, straining bilateral trade relations and slowing negotiations on a trade agreement.
However, after the outbreak of the Iran-US conflict and the resulting global energy crisis, Washington introduced a temporary waiver allowing countries, including India, to continue purchasing Russian crude, arguing that the arrangement would not significantly benefit Moscow.
Senator Richard Blumenthal has indicated that the bill includes a provision exempting countries purchasing Russian natural gas if their imports account for less than 15% of Russia’s total gas exports.
The proposed legislation has not yet become law. It must clear additional legislative steps before reaching the US President for approval. If enacted, it could have significant implications for India’s energy security, trade relations with the United States and global crude oil markets.
