US President Donald Trump has signed into law a new sanctions bill targeting Russia in response to its ongoing war in Ukraine. The legislation, approved by Congress this week, extends pressure on Moscow by focusing on its energy and defense sectors, as well as President Vladimir Putin and senior Russian officials.

The sanctions aim to disrupt Russia’s ability to finance its military operations by targeting entities involved in energy exports and defense industries. In addition, the bill addresses Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet"—a network of tankers used to circumvent existing Western sanctions. One of the key provisions grants President Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major importers of Russian oil and gas, a move that could affect significant buyers such as China and India.

The House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, approved the sanctions package with a 262-159 vote on Wednesday. While the bill received bipartisan support, some Democrats expressed reservations about granting the president broad trade powers. Many Democrats support measures to aid Ukraine but have been reluctant to extend unilateral tariff authority to the executive branch.

Beyond Russia, the legislation also includes expanded sanctions on companies and foreign actors assisting Moscow’s military efforts and introduces measures related to Iran. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the passage of the bill as a symbolic demonstration of international support and expressed gratitude to US lawmakers.

India, responding to the sanctions, stated on Thursday that it would continue purchasing oil through diversified sources, indicating it does not intend to halt imports from Russia despite the new US measures.

The timing of the bill’s signing comes just one week before President Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, adding an additional layer of complexity to US-China discussions amid the new ability to impose tariffs related to Russian energy imports.