US Congress approves Russia sanctions that impact China and India

The US House of Representatives approved a major new package of sanctions against Russia, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign into law the most significant American legislative action against Moscow since he returned to the White House,  Euronews writes. Lawmakers passed the measure 262 to 159. Trump has indicated he will sign it.

The sanctions target Russia’s energy and defence industries, President Vladimir Putin and senior officials around him, and the so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers Moscow uses to evade existing Western restrictions. Crucially for global energy markets, the bill also grants Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that continue buying large volumes of Russian oil and gas — a measure aimed squarely at China and India, two of Moscow’s biggest remaining customers. India responded on Thursday by signalling it would not change course, saying it would continue purchasing Russian oil “through diversified sourcing and on the basis of evolving market dynamics.”

Russia remains one of India’s most important strategic and military partners, complicating Washington’s efforts to isolate Moscow economically.