The legislation, which would allow the president to levy a 500% tariff on imports from countries that purchase Russian uranium, gas and oil, has gained momentum in the Senate as Trump has signaled he will escalate US action against Russia.

A bipartisan U.S. bill that would hit Russia with sanctions in a bid to pressure Moscow into good-faith peace negotiations with Ukraine has gained momentum this week in Congress, but it still lacks the presidential push it needs to get over the finish line.

In a significant shift in the US policy on the Russian-Ukraine war, President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that the United States would supply Patriot air defense systems like Ukraine. He signaled the possibility of harsher sanctions on Russia,