US Congress approves new sanctions against Moscow

The US House of Representatives approved new sanctions on Wednesday evening against Russia and its allies over their role in the war against Ukraine. The bill had already been passed by the Senate and is backed by President Donald Trump.

The vote in the House ended 262 in favour to 159 against. It is the first significant action by the US Congress against Moscow since the Republican president returned to power. For the first time, the United States now has a tool to target Russia's so-called shadow fleet, the tankers Moscow uses to get around sanctions on crude oil.

The bill also targets Russia's energy and defence sectors and directly hits Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials. It further gives the US president the power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five main countries importing Russian gas and oil, including China and India.

Democrats' reservations

Democratic lawmakers support the measures in favour of Ukraine but are more reluctant to give Trump a free hand on tariffs, his preferred economic tool. In the Senate, however, Democrats had broadly backed the bill: in early August it passed there 86 votes to 11.

Supporters of the bill say tougher sanctions against Russia and its allies, even indirect ones, are needed as Moscow steps up its attacks on Ukraine. On Wednesday, a Russian drone attack on a bus in the south of the country killed at least five people.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky worked to support the bill, notably during a visit to Washington in July. The legislation is named after its main architect, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July, a staunch defender of Ukraine and critic of Russia and Iran, which are also targeted by the bill.