The US House of Representatives passed a bill imposing sanctions on Russia by a vote of 262 to 159, clearing the way for the legislation to go to President Donald Trump for his signature. The Senate had already approved the measure.
The bill adds to years of sanctions that Washington and its allies have placed on Moscow since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Democratic Representative Chuy García, who voted against the bill, said the legislation was not designed to pressure Moscow because that goal is unreachable anyway. García represents Illinois's Fourth Congressional District, which covers parts of Chicago, and is a longtime member of the House's progressive wing.
Writing on the social media platform X, García said the bill does not increase pressure on Russia and instead hands Trump unlimited authority to impose tariffs. Trump has made tariffs a central tool of his trade and foreign policy since returning to office in January 2025.
How the vote broke down
Of the 159 lawmakers who opposed the bill, seven were Republicans and 152 were Democrats. The remaining 262 members of the chamber backed the measure, enough to secure its passage through the House.
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the US Congress, and legislation must clear both it and the Senate before reaching the president's desk. Having already passed the Senate, the bill now awaits Trump's signature to become law.
Russia warns of NATO escalation
The vote came after Yulia Zhdanova, who leads the Russian delegation at talks in Vienna on military security and arms control, said NATO countries plan to shift their military confrontation with Russia into a hot phase no later than 2029-2030. Her comments came amid heightened tension between Russia and NATO members over the war in Ukraine.
The Vienna talks are part of a long-running dialogue between Russia and NATO member states on military transparency and confidence-building measures, held under a framework known as the Vienna Document. Moscow and Western governments have used the forum for decades to try to reduce the risk of unintended military escalation in Europe.
