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A bipartisan bill imposing tougher sanctions on Russia has gained enough support to pass the U.S. Senate, but its timeline remains uncertain, Axios reported.
According to the report, the legislation now has at least 61 co-sponsors, including 39 Republicans and 22 Democrats, giving it sufficient backing for approval in the Senate.
The main obstacle is scheduling time for debate, as Senate leaders have not yet set a date for considering the bill. Even if it passes the Senate, the legislation must still be approved by the House of Representatives.
The sanctions package, originally introduced by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, has since been revised. Instead of imposing 500% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy, the current version would authorize tariffs of up to 100%.
The bill targets major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India, with the aim of reducing Moscow's energy revenues and limiting funding for its war against Ukraine. It also includes measures targeting Russia's "shadow fleet," which is used to circumvent Western sanctions on oil exports.
