New US sanctions set to hit the Russian oil sector
The United States has drafted a new sanctions package against Russia, awaiting approval from Congress and the White House. Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, described the measures as designed to significantly strain the Russian economy, with particular emphasis on targeting its oil sector.
Keith Kellogg announced the United States' readiness to impose new sanctions on Russia, highlighting in an interview with Fox News that the draft of the Russian Sanctions Act of 2025 is complete and now awaits approval from Congress and the White House.
Sanctions will hit the oil sector
Kellogg stated that the proposed sanctions would be particularly severe for Russia, highlighting a planned 500-percent tariff on Russian oil imports to the U.S. He emphasized that since Russia heavily relies on revenue from its oil sector, the sanctions directly target its economic backbone, confirming earlier reports that this tariff would be historically unprecedented.
House Speaker Mike Johnson voiced strong support for the sanctions proposal introduced in the Senate by Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal. "There's many members of Congress that want us to sanction Russia as strongly as we can. And I'm an advocate of that," Johnson said.
Trump hesitates with the decision
Despite congressional support, President Donald Trump remains reluctant to commit to the proposed sanctions. According to Politico, Trump is growing increasingly impatient with Vladimir Putin but remains uncertain about imposing stringent measures. His previously admiring tone toward the Russian leader has noticeably shifted amid Russia’s ongoing brutal assaults on Ukraine. In recent weeks, Trump openly criticized Putin, even describing him as "crazy" and accusing him of "playing with fire."
