--- title: "\"A Sledgehammer for Putin\": Senator Blumenthal Names Timeline for US Adoption of \"Hellish Sanctions\" Against Russia" description: "Senator Richard Blumenthal stated that the US House of Representatives will consider \"hellish sanctions\" against Russia in September 2026. The document provides for tariffs of up to 100% on buyers of Russian gas and oil." date: 2026-08-27T01:08:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/senator-blumenthal-hellish-sanctions-against-russia-adoption-timeline-en tags: [us-sanctions, russia, congress, blumenthal, energy-tariffs, ukraine-war, trump] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "A Sledgehammer for Putin": Senator Blumenthal Names Timeline for US Adoption of "Hellish Sanctions" Against Russia ![Senator Ben Blumenthal in a suit with US and Ukraine flag pins speaking on 'hellish sanctions' against Russia](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/27/senator-blumenthal-adskie-sanktsii-protiv-rossii-sroki-prinyatiya/senator-blumenthal-adskie-sanktsii-protiv-rossii-sroki-prinyatiya-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Senator Blumenthal expects the "hellish sanctions" to be considered by the House of Representatives in September 2026 - The bill provides for tariffs of up to 100% on the largest buyers of Russian gas and oil (China, India) - The Senate approved the document on August 7, 2026; some Democrats are concerned over the breadth of President Trump's powers - The US is simultaneously preparing a second sanctions package, which could be introduced in September 2026 Richard Blumenthal, a senator from Connecticut and one of the authors of a sweeping sanctions bill against Russia, stated that he expects the document to be considered by the US House of Representatives as early as September 2026. According to him, the bill, which has been given the unofficial media nickname "hellish sanctions," enjoys significant support among Republicans in the lower chamber of Congress and is set to become, in the senator's own words, a "sledgehammer" that "only Putin understands." ### Timeline of the Document's Passage According to data compiled by Ukrainian media outlets, a key milestone in the bill's fate occurred on August 7, 2026, when the US Senate approved the document and sent it to the House of Representatives. In early August, the bill was officially delivered to the lower chamber of Congress. Blumenthal emphasized that its consideration is expected in September, making this the most likely window for the law's adoption during the current congressional session. ### Pressure Mechanism: Tariffs Up to 100% and a Blow to Energy Revenues The bill provides for two main instruments. First, direct sanctions against specific officials of the Russian Federation. Second, granting US President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas β€” primarily China and India. The goal of the mechanism is to reduce Moscow's revenues from energy exports, which, according to the document's authors, finance the military operation against Ukraine. ### Intra-Party Disagreements and the Question of Presidential Powers Despite broad support for the sanctions line from the Democratic caucus, a number of Democratic senators and congressmen expressed concern over the breadth of the powers the bill grants to the president. The discussion centered on the theoretical possibility of imposing additional tariffs against US allies, including European partners. In response, Blumenthal stated that the document contains exceptions that prevent the tariff mechanism from being applied against European allies, and that this should allay the main concerns within the party. ### Contradictory Data A minor discrepancy in the wording of the timelines is observed across available sources. The main text of Blumenthal's statement points to "next month" (September 2026) as the period for the House of Representatives' consideration of the bill. At the same time, a number of Ukrainian outlets (TSN, Slovoidilo) phrase the thesis as "may be adopted as early as September," which implies not merely the start of consideration but a potential vote. The difference between "consideration" and "adoption" in congressional procedure is significant: the House may begin debates in September, but the final vote could be postponed. Moreover, internal resistance from some Democrats over presidential powers creates an additional factor of uncertainty for the timeline endorsed by the senator. ### Context: Preparation of a Second Package of Restrictions According to sources citing Ukrainian authorities, the US is simultaneously preparing another package of stringent sanctions, which could be introduced in September 2026. In Kyiv, these restrictions are considered potentially stricter than the EU's current sanctions measures. Thus, September 2026 risks becoming a turning point for sanctions pressure on Russia: both a vote on the "hellish sanctions" in the House of Representatives and the introduction of a new administrative package of restrictions could take place simultaneously. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [US Wants to Strike Russia with a "Sledgehammer": Senator Names Timeline](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-hochut-vdariti-kuvaldoyu-po-rosiyi-senator-1787789641.html) - Основной источник заявлСния Π‘Π»ΡŽΠΌΠ΅Π½Ρ‚Π°Π»Ρ ΠΎ сроках ΠΈ ΠΌΠ΅Ρ…Π°Π½ΠΈΠ·ΠΌΠ°Ρ… Π·Π°ΠΊΠΎΠ½ΠΎΠΏΡ€ΠΎΠ΅ΠΊΡ‚Π°. ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Π΄Π°Ρ‚Ρƒ одобрСния Π‘Π΅Π½Π°Ρ‚ΠΎΠΌ 7 августа ΠΈ Ρ„ΠΎΡ€ΠΌΡƒΠ»ΠΈΡ€ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΡƒ Β«ΠΊΡƒΠ²Π°Π»Π΄Π° для ΠŸΡƒΡ‚ΠΈΠ½Π°Β». - ["Sledgehammer" Against the Kremlin: US Prepares an Unprecedented Blow to Russia as Early as September](https://world.comments.ua/news/usa/kuvalda-protiv-kremlya-v-ssha-gotovyat-nevidannyy-ranee-udar-po-rossii-uzhe-v-sentyabre-814669.html) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ ΡΠ΅Π½Ρ‚ΡΠ±Ρ€ΡŒΡΠΊΠΈΠΉ Ρ‚Π°ΠΉΠΌΠ»Π°ΠΉΠ½ ΠΈ контСкст ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π³ΠΎΡ‚ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠΈ Π²Ρ‚ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ ΠΏΠ°ΠΊΠ΅Ρ‚Π° санкций. - [Senator Names Possible Timeline for US Adoption of Law on "Hellish" Sanctions Against Russia](https://ru.slovoidilo.ua/2026/08/27/novost/bezopasnost/senator-nazval-vozmozhnye-sroki-prinyatiya-ssha-zakona-adskix-sankciyax-rf) - Π”Π°Ρ‚ΠΈΡ€ΡƒΠ΅Ρ‚ ΠΏΡƒΠ±Π»ΠΈΠΊΠ°Ρ†ΠΈΡŽ 27.08.2026. Π˜ΡΠΏΠΎΠ»ΡŒΠ·ΡƒΠ΅Ρ‚ Ρ„ΠΎΡ€ΠΌΡƒΠ»ΠΈΡ€ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΡƒ Β«Π²ΠΎΠ·ΠΌΠΎΠΆΠ½Ρ‹Π΅ сроки», Ρ‡Ρ‚ΠΎ ΡƒΠΊΠ°Π·Ρ‹Π²Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Π½Π° Π½Π΅ΠΎΠΏΡ€Π΅Π΄Π΅Π»Ρ‘Π½Π½ΠΎΡΡ‚ΡŒ Ρ„ΠΈΠ½Π°Π»ΡŒΠ½ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ голосования. - ["Hellish Sanctions" Against Russia May Be Adopted as Early as September: US Names the Condition](https://tsn.ua/ru/exclusive/adskie-sanktsii-protiv-rossii-mogut-prinyat-uzhe-v-sentyabre-v-ssha-nazvali-uslovie-3156317.html) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ ΡΠ΅Π½Ρ‚ΡΠ±Ρ€ΡŒΡΠΊΠΈΠΉ срок ΠΈ ΡƒΠΏΠΎΠΌΠΈΠ½Π°Π΅Ρ‚ условиС (ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π΄Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠΊΡƒ рСспубликанцСв). Π€ΠΎΡ€ΠΌΡƒΠ»ΠΈΡ€ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ° Β«ΠΌΠΎΠ³ΡƒΡ‚ ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠ½ΡΡ‚ΡŒΒ» ΡˆΠΈΡ€Π΅, Ρ‡Π΅ΠΌ «рассмотрят». ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What are the "hellish sanctions" and when were they approved by the Senate? **A:** The "hellish sanctions" is the unofficial name for a sweeping sanctions bill against Russia, which the US Senate approved on August 7, 2026. The document provides for sanctions against Russian officials and grants the US president the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the largest buyers of Russian gas and oil. ### Q: When will the House of Representatives consider the bill? **A:** According to Senator Richard Blumenthal's statement, consideration is expected in September 2026. The document was delivered to the House of Representatives in early August following Senate approval. ### Q: Who will be affected by the tariffs of up to 100%? **A:** The mechanism is aimed at the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas β€” primarily China and India. The goal is to reduce Russia's energy revenues, which, according to the authors, finance the military operation against Ukraine. ### Q: Are there intra-party disagreements over the bill? **A:** Yes. Some Democrats in Congress expressed concern over the breadth of the powers the document grants to President Trump, including the theoretical possibility of tariffs against allies. Blumenthal stated that exceptions in the text protect European partners from the application of this mechanism.