(WASHINGTON) – The US Senate has taken a first step towards advancing a sweeping sanctions bill targeting Russia, a move analysts suggest is designed as much to appease a tariff-obsessed Donald Trump as it is to pressure the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
The legislation, spearheaded by Senator Lindsey Graham, would grant the US president authority to impose 500 percent tariffs on nations such as China and India should they continue purchasing Russian oil. The tariff provision is widely viewed as political decoration. Tariffs function as import taxes paid by American consumers and are considered irrelevant as a deterrent by trade experts, since neither Beijing nor New Delhi is expected to halt Russian crude imports.
Beyond the theatrical tariff component, the bill contains substantive measures. It targets Russian officials including the Russian dictator, defence and foreign ministers, and military commanders. It sanctions major financial institutions including Sberbank, VTB, and Gazprombank. It also targets shadow fleet operators in the energy sector, authorises penalties for refusing peace talks or violating agreements, and includes SWIFT banking restrictions and trade prohibitions.
The political calculus behind the legislation comes into focus when examining Trump’s approval ratings. Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine command approximately 60 percent favourability with the American public, whilst only roughly 10 per cent of Americans identify as openly pro-Russian. Trump, languishing at 34 to 35 per cent approval ahead of midterm elections, appears to be seeking a popularity boost.
Yet a fundamental problem persists. If Trump genuinely wished to assist Ukraine, he could act immediately without congressional legislation. He could dispatch Patriot interceptor missiles and other critical weaponry. He could sanction Russian companies and their foreign business partners with a stroke of the pen through the Treasury Department. The executive branch already possesses sweeping unilateral authority to freeze assets and target individuals anywhere in the world. Trump chooses not to exercise these powers.
The bill is not yet law. The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, is currently in summer recess. When asked whether he wanted the House to return before 31 August to act on the Russia and Iran sanctions legislation, Trump mumbled an incoherent response and evaded the question. Were he genuinely committed to signing the bill into law, he would instruct Speaker Johnson to recall Republican lawmakers from their holiday.
As of 30 July, the bill faces an entire month of legislative dormancy. A House vote would likely be scheduled for mid-September, with Trump’s signature arriving in late September and enforcement beginning in October. During this two month delay, Ukrainian lives will continue to be lost.
Compounding the picture of neglect, Senator Dick Durbin has revealed that the $400 million (£312 million, €363 million) in aid appropriated for Ukraine in last year’s spending bill has still not been delivered. Questioning Defence Secretary Hegseth, Durbin demanded to know why the funds allocated to assist Ukraine remain unspent. The administration’s current plan proposes stretching delivery of this aid package until 2029, effectively deferring meaningful assistance until Trump is out of office.
Source: Jake Broe Overflow.
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