Trump Backs Senate Bill Proposing 500% Tariffs on Russian Oil Buyers Like India, China

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed a Senate bill that could impose punitive 500% tariffs on countries—including India and China—that continue purchasing oil and energy products from Russia.

The bill, spearheaded by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, aims to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin by targeting the countries that keep his economy afloat through energy trade. In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Graham revealed that Trump supported moving the sanctions bill forward for a vote, calling it “a big breakthrough.”

“If you’re buying products from Russia and not helping Ukraine, then there’s a 500% tariff on your products coming into the U.S.,” Graham explained. “India and China buy 70% of Putin’s oil. They keep his war machine going.”

While Trump supports the bill’s intent, Graham noted that the former president would retain the power to waive the sanctions if it passes Congress.

Graham added that the bill already has 84 co-sponsors and described it as an “economic bunker buster” targeting Russia and its key energy partners.

According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, India was the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in May 2025, importing €4.2 billion worth of energy—72% of which was crude oil.

Reacting to Graham’s remarks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia was unsurprised. “His views are well known to us and the world,” Peskov said, calling Graham “an inveterate Russophobe.”

“Would this help the Ukraine settlement process? That is a question those pushing such measures should ask themselves,” he added.