Volodymyr Zelensky walked into the US Capitol on July 28 to meet with all 100 senators. His mission: rally support for the Sanctioning Russia Act, a sweeping bipartisan bill that could slap tariffs as high as 500% on countries importing Russian energy.
The bill, known formally as S.1241, already has over 84 co-sponsors.
What the Sanctioning Russia Act actually does
The legislation would give the president authority to impose massive tariffs on nations that continue purchasing Russian oil, natural gas, and uranium.
The bill also includes expanded financial restrictions aimed at choking off revenue streams that fund Russia’s war against Ukraine. This goes beyond the existing sanctions framework that has been in place since 2022, layering on new enforcement mechanisms and broader authority.
