Zelenskyy's Office explains how US Graham bill could affect Russia

Mariya Yemets - 17 September, 09:35

Stock photo: Getty Images

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukraine's Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, has welcomed the US House of Representatives' passage of a bill co-authored by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal that would enable the introduction of "punitive tariffs" on countries buying Russian energy, saying the measure would help reduce Russia's oil revenues.

Source: European Pravda, citing Vlasiuk in comments to journalists

Details: Vlasiuk welcomed the passage of the Graham-Blumenthal bill by the House of Representatives and said the legislation should become an important element of comprehensive pressure on Russia.

"Russia continues to receive significant revenues from oil sales, including through countries that continue to buy its energy resources... The tariffs envisaged by the bill against countries purchasing Russian energy could become an effective tool for reducing these revenues and increasing the cost of cooperation with Russia," the presidential commissioner said.

He also welcomed the fact that the sanctions cover Iran, noting that Moscow and Tehran have long cooperated in the defence industrial base, exchanged technologies and used shared supply channels, while Iranian drones and weapons components have become part of Russia's war against Ukraine.

"We expect the sanctions to make Russian energy exports more expensive, more difficult and less profitable. This does not mean an immediate end to the war, but it does mean gradually reducing Russia's ability to maintain the current intensity of its operations on the battlefield," Vlasiuk added.

Background:

On 16 September, the US House of Representatives passed the Graham-Blumenthal bill that would enable the introduction of "punitive" tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy. The bill now awaits President Donald Trump's signature.
The outcome marked a positive development after media reports suggested that the bill was encountering growing opposition in the US House of Representatives and could be blocked at least until the November congressional elections.
The US Senate approved the bill on 7 August by 86 votes.

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