US Senate passes sweeping sanctions on Russian energy

The US Senate has passed a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russia's energy revenues.

The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives, though a vote there will not take place until at least early September due to the congressional summer recess.

The package would impose sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, financial institutions and the so-called shadow fleet used to evade restrictions on Moscow's oil exports.

It would also allow US President Donald Trump to set tariffs of up to 500% on Russian imports, including gas and oil.

Crucially, the sanctions would enable Mr Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including countries such as China and India.

Supporters say choking off energy income is essential to weakening Russian President Vladimir Putin's ability to finance the war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year.

If adopted into law, Mr Putin himself would be among those targeted by the sanctions, as well as other top officials.

The bill was named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on 11 July after spending more than a year building support for it.

Shortly before his death, Mr Graham announced he had reached an agreement with the White House on a revised version of the text, including the extension of existing sanctions authority aimed at restricting funding for Iran's energy and weapons sectors.

For the late senator's sister Darline Graham, who replaced him in Congress, the final adoption of the bill will not only honour her brother, "but will also promote peace by cutting off the funding fueling Russia's war machine".

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, said the bill "hits Russia's energy and financial sectors very hard".

"Vladimir Putin only understands strength, and he only responds to pressure," Ms Shaheen added.

"This legislation represents our best opportunity to finally bring Russia's war machine to its knees and to force Putin to the negotiating table."

Russia's embassy in the United States had condemned the bill, saying it "does the current US administration a disservice."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed thanks for the passage of the bill.

"We are very grateful to the U.S. Senate and to everyone who supports Ukraine," Mr Zelensky wrote on social media platform X.

"Adopting the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act certainly helps increase pressure on the aggressor to bring this insane Russian war against our independence and our people to an end."

Moscow is also under increased European pressure, with the EU last month agreeing to a new round of sanctions, albeit watered down from harsher earlier proposals.

The package, the 21st by the EU since Russia's 2022 invasion, was held up by a raft of objections by member states to various proposed elements.

It focuses on freezing the level of an oil price cap to try and prevent Russia from cashing in on a surge of oil prices due to the Iran war.

Diplomats said the final hurdle was overcome after Greece was granted an exemption allowing shipping firms to carry on transporting Russian liquefied natural gas from the Arctic.

The new package also targets Russia's financial sector and crypto firms, and blacklists scores more Russian officials over the war.

However, a proposed sweeping visa ban was shelved.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the US Senate vote that backed sweeping Russian energy sanctions.

"Coming on the back of the EU's 21st package, I welcome the US Senate's adoption of the Graham Bill," wrote Ms von der Leyen on X.

"Together, let us drain Russia's means to continue a war it cannot win. With hard-hitting, complementary sanctions, Europe and the United States can once again show what historic partners can achieve when we act together," she added.

Russian attacks kill two in southeastern Ukraine

The sanctions come as Russian strikes on Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk Region killed two people and injured six.

Regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha, writing on Telegram, said Russian forces had launched nearly 50 attacks on five districts in the region, deploying drones, artillery and aerial bombs.

Two people were killed near Nikopol, a frequent Russian target on the western bank of the Dnipro River, opposite the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

One of the wounded was in a serious condition, Mr Hanzha said.

Meanwhile, President Zelensky arrived in Serbia for his first visit to the Balkan country expected to focus on economic cooperation and bids by both countries to secure European Union membership.

Mr Zelensky posted a video on Telegram showing his arrival ahead of talks with populist President Aleksandar Vucic and other officials.

"We will be speaking about expanding economic ties between our countries, relations with the European Union, and other things that can work for our peoples, as well as security issues," Mr Zelensky wrote.

Mr Zelensky's visit will likely sour ties between Serbia and Russia, its long-time ally and main natural gas supplier.

Yesterday, Mr Vucic said the two leaders would discuss European Union accession bids as well as economic and energy cooperation.