President Donald Trump has indicated that he may leverage new tariff authorities under a recently enacted Russia sanctions law to pressure Moscow into ending the conflict in Ukraine. This move could potentially lead to increased tariffs on major purchasers of Russian energy, including India and China.
Last week, Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which grants the president the power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that buy Russian oil and natural gas. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Trump emphasized his readiness to use these powers if necessary to facilitate the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war, while also calling for an end to the hostilities.
The new legislation also targets Russian officials, financial entities, and sectors accused of helping Moscow circumvent existing sanctions. The law’s introduction marks a continued effort by Washington to pressure Russia into negotiations, a strategy supported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has expressed willingness to engage in further discussions to end the war.
While the law provides Trump with substantial tariff powers, it does not automatically impose a 100% tariff on countries like India and China. The decision to implement these tariffs remains at the president’s discretion, with potential impacts on these nations contingent on future actions by the United States.