New Delhi: The US Senate has approved a bill that would allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that are among the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The bill, named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11, was approved by the Senate in an 86-11 vote. Graham had strongly advocated for tougher sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year.

His sister, Darline Graham, who succeeded him in the Senate, said the bill “hits [Russian President Vladimir] Putin where it hurts.”

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who had pressed for the bill’s passage alongside Graham for more than a year, said the people of Ukraine “are not alone.”

“Today, President [Volodymyr] Zelensky is watching from Ukraine – and Putin is watching from Moscow,” he said.

“I would like to think Lindsey Graham is watching, too,” he added.

“Today we say to the people of Ukraine: You are not alone. And today we say to Vladimir Putin: You will not conquer Ukraine,” Blumenthal said.

The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for approval when it reconvenes on August 31.

What’s in the Russia Sanctions Bill?

The bipartisan package would allow the president to impose tariffs on countries that are among the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, potentially including India and China.

Besides India and China, Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia are currently among the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas.

The bill provides exceptions for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

The legislation also proposes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, Russian financial institutions and Russian energy projects.

It would expand US sanctions to cover older, reflagged oil tankers that Moscow allegedly uses to circumvent existing American sanctions and maintain Russian oil and energy revenues.

The bill would also allow the White House to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

In addition to sanctions on Russia, the bill would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031. The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.