War Against Ukraine: Sharp US Sanctions Against Moscow – and Its Trading Partners
After lengthy negotiations, the US House of Representatives has now also passed new sanctions against Russia. These allow Moscow's trading partners to be targeted as well. But is Trump willing to implement them?
These are the toughest Russia sanctions since Donald Trump's second inauguration that the US Congress has now set in motion. Following the Senate, the House of Representatives has also approved them – by 262 votes to 159.
Jeanne Shaheen, Democratic Senator from New Hampshire, described it as an important signal for Ukraine: "There is bipartisan support in Congress for the extraordinarily courageous effort with which Ukraine continues to defend itself day after day against terrible Russian attacks," the senator said on CNN. And she emphasized: "This very important legislation brings the United States into alignment with our European allies."
Oil and Gas Deals in the Crosshairs
The legislation is directed specifically at Russian companies and politicians and targets oil and gas exports in particular. It also targets shipments carried out by the so-called Russian shadow fleet – vessels sailing under other flags that transport goods on Russia's behalf.
In addition, the law enables the US president to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries that continue to buy oil and gas from Russia. This affects China and India above all.
Doubts About Measures Against China
"China is the primary buyer of Russian oil and gas," said Senator Shaheen. "And we need to send a very strong message, not only to Vladimir Putin, but also to China and to everyone else buying Russian oil and gas, that they will pay a price for it."
This is precisely where the arguments of the skeptics come in. They doubt whether President Trump would actually risk imposing significant new punitive tariffs on China, the United States' principal strategic rival. Relations with China are marked by conflicts in many areas, while at the same time there are mutual dependencies. President Xi Jinping is expected in Washington next week.
Room for Maneuver for Trump
With regard to the new Russia sanctions legislation overall: many of the measures leave Donald Trump room for maneuver – they enable the president to take tougher action against Russia. Whether and to what extent he does so remains largely up to him.
The new sanctions package against Russia is named after Republican Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly in July. The senator from South Carolina had introduced the legislation in its original form a year and a half ago. Trump's largely Russia-friendly stance and the corresponding pressure on Republicans in Congress made its passage difficult, if not impossible, for a long time.
Hopes for Negotiations
President Trump has now signaled that he intends to sign the legislation. Republican Michael McCaul, a congressman from Texas and close friend of Lindsey Graham, hopes that negotiations toward an end to the war against Ukraine will now finally move one step closer.
McCaul told the television network ABC: "The only person stopping the peace efforts is Mr. Putin. Real negotiations will not take place unless we apply maximum pressure, through air defense missiles for Ukraine, through drones that take out billions of dollars' worth of Russian equipment and technology — and these sanctions that Lindsey Graham has so badly wanted."
