India Warns US on Russia Sanctions Bill — SkimNews
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- Rubio and Jaishankar met in New York on Wednesday to discuss sanctions targeting countries that engage economically with Russia and Iran, the State Department said.
- Trump signed the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026" last week, named after the deceased South Carolina Republican senator.
- The bill requires tariffs of up to 100% within 30 days on goods from the top five importers of Russian crude oil or gas and on countries making new purchases after enactment.
- India is among the biggest buyers of Russian crude, and Jaishankar wrote on X that he "reiterated India's interests and concerns" about the legislation, known as SRIA.
- New Delhi has previously warned Washington that new tariffs over Russian oil could harm bilateral ties; Trump imposed 50% tariffs in August 2025 before rolling them back in February.
- Indian oil purchases from Russia briefly dipped in early 2026 but have since jumped, particularly after the supply shock that followed the US-Israeli war on Iran.
- India defends its purchases as stabilizing global supplies and keeping domestic prices affordable, not financing Russia's war on Ukraine.
Why it matters: India is one of the biggest buyers of Russian crude, and its purchases have rebounded after the Iran war's supply shock — making it a direct target for the bill's 100% tariff mechanism aimed at the top five importers. New Delhi has already cycled through 50% tariffs in 2025, brief compliance, then resumed Russian purchases, so this bill reignites a standoff India has tried to manage.
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