US President Donald Trump has indicated he will allow a bipartisan Russia sanctions package to advance in Congress, opening the way for tariffs of at least 500 per cent on imports from countries that continue buying Russian energy, according to Senator Lindsey Graham and US media reports.
The move comes days after US forces seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela in separate operations, including a vessel sailing under a Russian flag. Russia has condemned the seizure as unlawful.
The sanctions bill
Graham said on Wednesday, 7 January, that Trump had “greenlit” the legislation after a White House meeting. The administration wanted the bill to preserve presidential discretion over how any measures are applied.
The proposal is titled the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 (S.1241). The bill was introduced in the Senate on 1 April 2025 and sets out a framework for new sanctions if the Russian government refuses to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine, violates any agreement, or initiates another invasion.
Graham has framed the bill as a tool to pressure countries purchasing Russian oil, gas and uranium. He explicitly cited China, India and Brazil as potential targets.
Congress.gov, which publishes the official text, lists the bill’s structure and objectives; supporters have highlighted a “secondary” mechanism aimed at third-country buyers of Russian energy and other strategically important exports. Public summaries and reporting around the bill have focused on a provision that would authorise tariffs of not less than 500 per cent on goods from countries that continue purchasing specified Russian exports.
A vote could be held as early as next week, Graham said, although reporting noted the Senate’s agenda and recess timetable as potential constraints.
Seizure of the Marinera and the M/T Sophia
The sanctions push follows a sharp escalation at sea. On 7 January, US forces seized a Russian-flagged tanker, the Marinera, after a pursuit that lasted more than two weeks and was linked to Washington’s efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports.
The vessel was boarded in waters between Iceland and Scotland. The UK Ministry of Defence provided support, but did not take part in the boarding itself.
A second vessel, the M/T Sophia, was also seized in a separate operation in the Caribbean.
The Russian naval assets were in the area during the Marinera operation, including a submarine that had been shadowing the tanker.
Russia’s Transport Ministry said the seizure violated maritime law, arguing that force cannot be used against a lawfully registered vessel on the high seas. A Russian lawmaker described the action as “piracy”.
The Marinera has previously operated under other names. US and allied officials say such tankers form part of a “shadow” fleet used to transport sanctioned cargoes, often through repeated renaming and changes of flag.
Wider Venezuela context
The seizures came as Washington intensified pressure on Venezuela. US special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and transferred him to the United States to face drug-related charges. Russia has continued to support an interim Venezuelan leadership arrangement.
The tanker actions are also being interpreted as part of a broader US effort to tighten control over Venezuelan oil flows and to signal resolve to Moscow, Beijing and Tehran.
What comes next
Trump’s decision to back the Graham–Blumenthal bill would add a congressional track to an approach that has already included maritime enforcement. The measure would authorise steep tariffs on imports from countries that continue purchasing specified Russian exports, and would place a new tool at the president’s disposal in dealings with major buyers of Russian energy.
