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A bipartisan bill aimed at tightening sanctions on Russia’s energy sector is ready, but a Senate vote has been personally blocked by the U.S. president.
Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse warned that President Donald Trump is personally preventing the vote on the bipartisan legislation to increase sanctions on Russia, they said during a visit to Kyiv after attending the Munich Security Conference, according to Semafor.
Senator Blumenthal, who drafted the bill alongside Republican Lindsey Graham, described the proposed sanctions as a “sledgehammer of economic pressure” on Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The vote is especially timely as indirect U.S.-mediated talks between Kyiv and Moscow resumed this week in Geneva.
Trump as the only obstacle
Blumenthal directly identified Trump as the sole obstacle to passing the bill: “We were waiting for the green light, and he’s so indecisive that anyone watching him feels dizzy.”
The bill is bipartisan—supported by both Democrats and Republicans—which is rare in today’s polarized U.S. Congress and demonstrates broad backing for increasing pressure on Moscow.
Tougher measures needed
Blumenthal acknowledged that current U.S. and European sanctions are already beginning to reduce Russia’s oil production. This sends an important signal: despite Russia’s extensive sanction circumvention via third countries, the impact is gradually increasing. However, the senator noted that the pressure is still insufficient, and stronger measures are required.
Senator Whitehouse noted some progress by the Trump administration in targeting Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” According to Whitehouse, the U.S. has demonstrated readiness and capability to act decisively: American forces have already conducted effective operations near Venezuela, showing that the U.S. military is prepared to seize shadow fleet tankers if a political decision is made.
Notably, this discussion comes as U.S.-Ukraine-Russia talks resume in Geneva this week. Critics warn that by blocking sanctions, Trump is effectively weakening the West’s negotiating position with Moscow at a critical moment.
The bill in question, known as the “Russia Sanctions Act of 2025,” is authored by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal. It proposes secondary tariffs of up to 500% on imports from countries that continue to purchase Russian energy. The Trump administration had previously hesitated to support the initiative, favoring direct negotiations, but increased cooperation between Russia, Iran, and North Korea, as well as India’s reluctance to voluntarily cut Russian oil, led the White House to shift strategy toward an “economic stick.”
In October, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Russia’s largest oil companies—Rosneft and Lukoil—hoping to push Russia to end the war against Ukraine. Following this, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States was running out of options for imposing new sanctions on Russia.
