A bipartisan Senate agreement backed by the Trump administration would broaden pressure on Russia by threatening steep tariffs on buyers of its oil, gas and uranium, while leaving digital assets outside the bill.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has reached an agreement with the Trump administration to move ahead with the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, a proposal that could become one of the toughest U.S. sanctions packages aimed at Russia. The bill, formally designated Senate Bill 1241, was introduced on April 1, 2025, and the July 10 breakthrough involved Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). The measure would give the president authority to impose blocking sanctions and secondary sanctions tied to Russia’s energy trade. Countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas or uranium could face tariffs of up to 500% on goods entering the United States if Russia fails to comply with peace negotiations or violates treaty obligations. The bill has more than 80 Senate co-sponsors, underscoring broad support for a measure designed to pressure a major source of Moscow’s export revenue. The agreement is significant because earlier bipartisan efforts had run into friction with the White House over diplomatic negotiations with Russia. The administration’s backing now suggests it is prepared to use economic coercion alongside, or instead of, direct military assistance. For crypto investors, the bill is notable for what it does not do: it contains no provisions targeting digital assets, unlike some proposals floated earlier in the Ukraine conflict that contemplated crypto-related sanctions tools.