---
title: "US lawmakers pass sweeping Russia sanctions to cripple war effort"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/85262/us-lawmakers-pass-sweeping-russia-sanctions-to-cripple-war-effort
published: 2026-09-17T10:00:28Z
language: en
author: "Felicia Roșca"
section: "International"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# US lawmakers pass sweeping Russia sanctions to cripple war effort

> The U.S. Congress passed sweeping legislation approving severe economic sanctions on Russia and Iran, authorizing punitive tariffs of up to 100% on countries importing Russian oil and natural gas.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/af9d7387-c115-4ce9-b608-829d1792aca9.jpg)

The U.S. Congress passed sweeping legislation approving severe economic sanctions on Russia and Iran, authorizing punitive tariffs of up to 100% on countries importing Russian oil and natural gas.

The measure represents the most consequential legislative effort to support Ukraine since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The bipartisan breakthrough effectively breaks a nearly two-year political impasse over Washington's strategic response to Moscow's aggression.

The bill now heads to the White House for President Trump's signature into law.

**Targeting Moscow's energy and shadow fleet**

The legislation directly penalizes Russia’s energy and defense sectors, while instituting comprehensive interdictions against the maritime "shadow fleet" of tankers used to evade global export restrictions. 

It also grants the U.S. president executive authority to levy import tariffs of up to 100% against third countries purchasing Russian hydrocarbons—specifically targeting major buyers like China and India—to accelerate their decoupling from Moscow.

Lawmakers emphasized that the economic blockade aims to dismantle Moscow's military funding while significantly bolstering Kyiv's strategic posture.

*“This bill will cripple Russia’s war machine and finally bring Putin to the negotiating table,”* said Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican. *“It will ensure that America’s adversaries—not just Russia, but China and Iran—suffer the consequences of their coordinated campaign of aggression.”*

*“The voice of America, as expressed by the United States Congress, says to Russia and to Putin: enough of passivity and enough of tolerating your conduct,”* said Representative Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat. *“No more allowing Ukrainians to be slaughtered every night.”*

**Warning over wider regional aggression**

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal warned that failing to confront the Kremlin decisively would inevitably invite aggression against other regional states, including Moldova.

*“To the American people: thank you for standing with Ukraine and recognizing that Ukraine’s fight is our fight,”* said Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat. *“It is about our freedom and independence as well as theirs. If Putin is not stopped, he will move on to Poland, Moldova, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden. And America will send its sons and daughters to fight on the front lines to uphold our NATO treaty obligations.”*

The act also broadens enforcement against Iran by targeting Tehran's arms development and petroleum trade networks.

Originally drafted more than 18 months ago by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, the bill faced prolonged delays over administrative skepticism regarding aggressive trade penalties. The White House recently reversed its stance to back the measure following stalled diplomatic negotiations with Moscow.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

***
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