"500% Tariff on Countries Buying Russian Oil, Gas, Uranium" US Congress Takes Strong Action

US Senate Takes on 'Bad Cop' Role Instead of 'Good Cop' Trump in Dealing with Putin

As negotiations to halt the Russia-Ukraine war show little progress, President Donald Trump's patience is wearing thin. The idea of lifting sanctions on Russia and strengthening economic cooperation if a ceasefire agreement is reached is faltering, and there is growing support within the US for increasing sanctions to pressure Russia. A bill imposing high tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil or uranium has been introduced in Congress with bipartisan support.

○"Putin is Playing with Fire"

On the 27th (local time), President Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for "playing with fire" in a post on Truth Social, as Putin has not only failed to reach a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine but has also intensified his offensive.

He stated, "What Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, many really bad things would have happened to Russia." This follows his direct criticism of Putin as "completely crazy" the previous day, marking two consecutive days of strong messages directed at Putin.

Despite claiming after a two-hour call with Putin on the 19th that ceasefire negotiations would begin immediately, this was merely Trump's unilateral wishful thinking. Russia has intensified drone and other airstrikes against Ukraine. It has become clear that the expectation of improving bilateral relations through personal ties was naive.

The US currently lacks effective means to force a ceasefire and end the war with Russia. President Trump told reporters the previous day that he is "absolutely considering" sanctions against Russia. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing people close to Trump, that while the White House is reviewing sanctions against Russia, it may not actually impose them.

○Senate Steps Up with White House Support

The US Senate has taken a more direct approach in dealing with Putin, stepping in as the 'bad cop' while the White House plays the 'good cop' role of engaging in amicable talks with Putin.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), a close ally of President Trump, wrote in the WSJ that "the US Senate will not tolerate Putin's game." In the article, Senator Graham revealed that a bipartisan group of 82 politicians, including Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), is preparing a bill for sanctions against Russia.

The bill includes imposing a 500% tariff on countries purchasing Russian oil or uranium. "If China or India doesn't buy cheap (Russian) oil, Putin's war machine will stop," Graham wrote, adding that the goal is to economically isolate Russia. He also stated that the bill was coordinated with the White House from the preparation stage.

The plan is to use tariffs as leverage, a method familiar to President Trump, to create room for negotiations with Russia. Senator Graham also quoted Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-South Dakota), saying, "We must prepare for a different situation with Moscow's thug (Putin)," and "If Putin continues his game, the Senate will act."

It's not just a simple role play. There is significant support within Congress for a hardline approach, arguing that 'friendship' with Putin will not solve the problem. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) wrote on X that it's time to impose strong sanctions to let Putin know the game is over, urging the president to show the same resolute attitude he showed to Harvard. Senator Todd Young (R-Indiana) also stated that "immediate action against Russia is necessary."

○South Korea, 2nd Largest Importer of Russian Uranium

The issue is that South Korea could inadvertently be caught in the crossfire. The Senate is targeting Russian energy, including uranium, with high tariffs, and South Korea is the second-largest importer of enriched uranium from Russia after China.

As of 2023, the US was the largest importer of Russian enriched uranium, but due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, the US has reduced its imports, making China the largest, followed by South Korea and then the US in 3rd place last year. The US has announced it will completely halt imports from Russia by 2028 and has been rapidly reducing its import volume since.

In this context, if high tariffs are imposed on China for importing Russian oil and uranium, South Korea could also become a target. This could impact the domestic nuclear industry. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power plans to diversify its supply lines by increasing imports of US enriched uranium from 2031, considering geopolitical changes. However, as this is a long-term process, it is not easy to respond immediately to sanctions aimed at pressuring the Ukraine war.

Washington Correspondent: Lee Sang-eun