Kremlin condemns US Russia sanctions bill as 'unfriendly', India vows to protect energy security

The Kremlin on Thursday described the US House of Representatives’ passage of a sweeping Russia sanctions bill as an “unfriendly” action, warning that further US sanctions could complicate efforts to reach a peace deal in Ukraine.

The comments came a day after the House passed the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by 262-159. India, meanwhile, said it would take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its economic interests and ensure energy security.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia was monitoring the progress of the legislation, "We are, of course, monitoring the progress of this document. It falls under the category of unfriendly actions, and of course the imposition of any additional sanctions by the U.S. would certainly complicate efforts to find a peace settlement in Ukraine."

The measure now heads to US president Donald Trump and would give the administration powers to impose sanctions on Russia and tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas. The bill also targets Russian officials, banks, energy projects and a “shadow fleet” of tankers used to move Russian energy.

The legislation was named after the late senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who spent more than a year negotiating it. The Senate had passed the measure by 86-11 last month.

The bill’s tariff provisions have particular implications for India and China, which are among the largest buyers of Russian crude. According to congressional aides cited in the supplied report, the top five purchasers of Russian crude are China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.

US-mediated efforts to end the four-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine have been stalled for months, but Trump sent two envoys to Moscow and Kyiv earlier this month in an effort to get the process moving again.

The ministry of external affairs said New Delhi was closely monitoring developments. “As stated on several earlier occasions, India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people,” the MEA said. “It will continue to do so through diversified sourcing and on the basis of evolving market dynamics,” it added, saying the issue had been “discussed at high levels in recent months with various US interlocutors”.

The legislation has drawn both bipartisan support and Democratic criticism in the US House. Supporters said the tariff provisions were intended to deter countries from purchasing Russian energy, while critics warned that the measure could also affect US allies and push up prices for American consumers.

“For too long, Putin has bankrolled this devastating war with money and resources from countries willing to look the other way, and today, that ends,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said.

Democratic opposition included concerns over the powers the legislation would give Trump. Rep. Don Beyer said supporters could regret the measure if Trump used the new authority against US allies.

Meanwhile, Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal, who helped write the bill, said he hoped the sanctions would pressure Russian president Vladimir Putin towards negotiations.

“To Vladimir Putin — we have your number,” Blumenthal said. “And to Ukraine — you are not alone.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy had urged lawmakers to approve the legislation, saying during wartime it can be better to “make a not-so-perfect decision than to do nothing”.