US President Donald Trump has signed a bill authorising new sanctions designed to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine, shortly after it received congressional approval this week.
The legislation approved by Trump on Friday takes aim at Russia's energy and defence sectors, alongside President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials. It also targets Russian oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons and Russian banks and financial institutions.
It also targets Moscow's so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to evade Western sanctions, and allows Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas — China and India.
The Republican-led House of Representatives passed the package by a 262-159 vote on Wednesday.
The bill would also target companies and foreign actors supporting Russia's military, and extend sanctions involving Iran.
But the broad powers to impose tariffs sparked an unusual split among Democrats, who largely support Ukraine but have resisted handing Trump wider authority over trade.
Zelenskyy thanks US
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier said the legislation's passage was symbolic and thanked US lawmakers.
"The best way to honour Lindsey's memory would be to implement the provisions of this law fully and as quickly as possible," Zelenskyy said on Friday, referring to the lawmaker who championed the bill, the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
India said on Thursday it would continue buying oil "through diversified sourcing."
Trump's signing of the bill also comes a week before he is due to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington.
The law requires Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent within 30 days on all goods imported into the US from the largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas as well as any country that knowingly made new purchases of oil or gas 30 days after the law was enacted or was among the top five countries helping Russia evade sanctions.
There is an exception for countries that import less than 15 percent of Russia’s natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.
China and India are among the biggest buyers of Russian oil, but critics say the law gives US officials enough leeway to name a range of targets since it does not name any country or spell out how the top-five lists would be calculated.
