Trump Greenlights Crushing Sanctions: U.S. Unites to Punish Putin's Allies

Paul Riverbank, 1/8/2026President Trump backs sweeping, bipartisan sanctions on Russia, empowering the US to impose steep tariffs on nations buying Russian energy. As Washington unites, global trade tensions rise—underscoring America's resolve to curb Moscow's war in Ukraine while risking friction with key partners.

Senator Graham, emerging from talks, didn’t mince words. Posting on social media, he signaled not only Trump’s support, but just how far-reaching this new legislation could go. The central provision? It would hand the president the authority to slap sky-high—think 500%—tariffs on goods from any country that continues doing business with Russia’s energy sector. This isn’t limited to the usual suspects, either. China, India, Brazil—a host of major global traders could soon find themselves in the crosshairs if they keep snapping up Russian oil or uranium.

Graham’s rationale is blunt: “This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine.” Behind the sound bite, though, there’s a strategic calculus at play. Washington isn’t just trying to pinch Moscow; it’s looking to bully reluctant foreign partners into line, no matter how significant the potential fallout for US trade.

Timing, as ever in diplomacy, is critical. Graham argues that with Ukraine reportedly contemplating concessions amid ongoing bloodshed, tighter sanctions might finally force Putin to the negotiating table, or at least stall the war effort. But the world, as usual, has its own ideas. Despite repeated American efforts, Russian oil and gas still find willing buyers far from Europe. Even the EU, which once pledged a hard cutoff, is quietly keeping the taps open. Take France as an example: last year alone, French ports received more than eighty tankers of Russian liquefied natural gas—a figure accounting for nearly half of the EU’s imports from Moscow. The bloc, while promising to ban these imports by 2027, seems less urgent in the face of soaring energy needs and volatile markets.

Critics, not surprisingly, are vocal. Sebastian Rötters, a noted campaigner for tougher sanctions, called every EU cargo delivery to Russian terminals “a direct deposit into a war chest that fuels the slaughter in Ukraine.” It’s hard to argue with the numbers; according to analysts, the EU shelled out roughly $8.4 billion to a single Russian project in 2025 alone.

American officials aren’t just fixated on legislative solutions. In a more kinetic show of resolve, US forces recently intercepted a tanker trying to ship Venezuelan oil to Russia—another notch in a string of high-impact interventions, at least if Graham’s posturing is anything to go by.

Yet, even as the sanctions bill speeds toward a crucial vote, doubts linger. Senator Rand Paul and other skeptics question whether such muscular tariffs could boomerang on the US, souring relationships with essential trading partners or triggering price spikes for consumers at home. Others fear the plan could embolden America’s rivals, pushing them into each other’s arms just as Washington tries to isolate Moscow.

Nonetheless, the sense of urgency in Washington is palpable. Congress could vote on the measure within days, potentially handing the administration a powerful—and controversial—new tool to reshape the global response to Russia’s invasion. Will this be the lever that finally shifts the course of the war? Or just one more costly gambit in a long, grinding contest of economic brinkmanship? For now, the world watches as US lawmakers, for once, appear to be in step—if only for the moment.

A flurry of political maneuvering in Washington is putting Russia back in the spotlight. This week, after a sit-down with Senator Lindsey Graham behind closed doors, President Trump gave the green light to a sweeping, bipartisan sanctions package that’s been gestating in Congress for months. For a brief moment, Democrats and Republicans seem united—a rare occurrence these days—pushing forward on a bill aimed squarely at the Kremlin’s coffers.Senator Graham, emerging from talks, didn’t mince words. Posting on social media, he signaled not only Trump’s support, but just how far-reaching this new legislation could go. The central provision? It would hand the president the authority to slap sky-high—think 500%—tariffs on goods from any country that continues doing business with Russia’s energy sector. This isn’t limited to the usual suspects, either. China, India, Brazil—a host of major global traders could soon find themselves in the crosshairs if they keep snapping up Russian oil or uranium.Graham’s rationale is blunt: “This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine.” Behind the sound bite, though, there’s a strategic calculus at play. Washington isn’t just trying to pinch Moscow; it’s looking to bully reluctant foreign partners into line, no matter how significant the potential fallout for US trade.Timing, as ever in diplomacy, is critical. Graham argues that with Ukraine reportedly contemplating concessions amid ongoing bloodshed, tighter sanctions might finally force Putin to the negotiating table, or at least stall the war effort. But the world, as usual, has its own ideas. Despite repeated American efforts, Russian oil and gas still find willing buyers far from Europe. Even the EU, which once pledged a hard cutoff, is quietly keeping the taps open. Take France as an example: last year alone, French ports received more than eighty tankers of Russian liquefied natural gas—a figure accounting for nearly half of the EU’s imports from Moscow. The bloc, while promising to ban these imports by 2027, seems less urgent in the face of soaring energy needs and volatile markets.Critics, not surprisingly, are vocal. Sebastian Rötters, a noted campaigner for tougher sanctions, called every EU cargo delivery to Russian terminals “a direct deposit into a war chest that fuels the slaughter in Ukraine.” It’s hard to argue with the numbers; according to analysts, the EU shelled out roughly $8.4 billion to a single Russian project in 2025 alone.American officials aren’t just fixated on legislative solutions. In a more kinetic show of resolve, US forces recently intercepted a tanker trying to ship Venezuelan oil to Russia—another notch in a string of high-impact interventions, at least if Graham’s posturing is anything to go by.Yet, even as the sanctions bill speeds toward a crucial vote, doubts linger. Senator Rand Paul and other skeptics question whether such muscular tariffs could boomerang on the US, souring relationships with essential trading partners or triggering price spikes for consumers at home. Others fear the plan could embolden America’s rivals, pushing them into each other’s arms just as Washington tries to isolate Moscow.Nonetheless, the sense of urgency in Washington is palpable. Congress could vote on the measure within days, potentially handing the administration a powerful—and controversial—new tool to reshape the global response to Russia’s invasion. Will this be the lever that finally shifts the course of the war? Or just one more costly gambit in a long, grinding contest of economic brinkmanship? For now, the world watches as US lawmakers, for once, appear to be in step—if only for the moment.