Fresh US sanctions against Russia a ‘potential game-changer’, says Miliband

A sweeping package of new US sanctions aimed at putting the financial squeeze on Russia’s ability to wage war against Ukraine “has the potential to be a game-changer”, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has said.The passage of legislation through Congress, paving the way for the introduction of the punitive measures, was “a significant moment”, according to the Cabinet minister, who argued it would send “a clear message to the Kremlin”.The bill, which cleared the House of Representatives this week having been passed by the Senate in August, now goes to US President Donald Trump to sign into law.It is named after the late senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who championed its provisions on Capitol Hill.The bill gives the president discretion over how its measures are implemented (Matt Kelley/AP)APThe new sanctions legislation targets Russian officials, financial institutions and the “shadow fleet” of tankers used to ship Russian oil while dodging sanctions.It also gives the president the power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, such as China and India.The aim is to ramp up economic pressure on Moscow and force it to the negotiating table.But its leverage will ultimately depend on enforcement of the measures by the White House, with the bill allowing for presidential discretion over how it is implemented.Since returning to office, Mr Trump has moved to end Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic isolation over Ukraine and sought to promote talks to end the conflict, now in its fifth year.In a post on X, Mr Miliband said: “The passage of the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act by the US Congress is a significant moment.“This legislation has the potential to be a game-changer, ramping up economic pressure on Russia.“Congress is sending a clear message to the Kremlin: It’s time to negotiate now.”Also welcoming the move, Britain’s ambassador to the US, Sir Christian Turner, said on X: “Senator Lindsey Graham and I discussed this legislation at length – he was convinced that it could be pivotal to stopping the killing and securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”The White House has moved to end Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic isolation over Ukraine (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, via AP)APUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Sanctions must be strong so that all efforts for peace, and in particular our joint diplomatic efforts with the United States, Europe, and other friends, are effective.”His foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said the bill represented “an important step toward further pressuring Russia, raising the cost of its continued aggression, and depriving the Russian war machine of resources”.He added: “It is crucial not to stop there. We very much hope that this decisive move will… signal the start of a new round of intensified pressure from other partners as well.”Read MoreBut Moscow has argued the imposition of further sanctions on Russia would hamper the Washington-led effort to end the war in Ukraine.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We are, of course, monitoring the passing of this document.“This falls into the category of unfriendly actions. And, of course, the US imposing some additional sanctions would definitely complicate the efforts to find a peace settlement in Ukraine.”