Donald Trump said Republicans are drafting legislation to impose severe sanctions on any country that continues to do business with Russia [1].

This move signals a potential escalation in U.S. economic warfare, aiming to isolate Moscow by targeting its remaining global trade partners. By shifting the focus from direct sanctions on Russia to secondary sanctions on its partners, the U.S. seeks to use its financial leverage to force a broader international boycott.

Trump said Republicans are putting in legislation for "very tough sanctions on any country doing business with Russia" [1]. He said the scope of these penalties could expand to include other nations. "They may add Iran to that. I suggested it," Trump said [1].

According to reports, the drafting bill focuses on creating a punitive environment for nations that maintain trade ties with Moscow [2]. Trump said the intent is a means to apply extreme pressure on the Russian economy by cutting off its avenues for commerce [2].

While some reports characterize the goal as an attempt to "crush" specific economies that persist in trading with Russia, other accounts describe the process as the drafting of a formal legislative bill [3, 2]. This legislative approach would codify the sanctions into law, making them more difficult to reverse than executive orders.

Trump said the measure is intended to be a decisive strike against those supporting the Russian state through trade [3]. The proposal highlights a strategy of aggressive economic containment to limit Russia's ability to sustain its operations through international markets [1].

“"Very tough sanctions on any country doing business with Russia."”

The proposed legislation represents a shift toward secondary sanctions, which penalize third-party countries for their interactions with a sanctioned state. If enacted, this would force global economies to choose between the U.S. market and trade with Russia, potentially straining diplomatic relations with neutral nations and intensifying the economic isolation of both Russia and Iran.