US senator: Targeting Putin’s oil buyers key to weakening Russia

On August 10, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Russian President Vladimir Putin “can’t tolerate” Washington targeting nations that purchase Russian oil, days before a planned meeting between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska.

According to Graham, the strategy is to put economic pressure on countries such as India, China, and Brazil, Caliber.Az reports, per an American newspaper.

“Putin could give a damn about sanctions. He evades them. He could give a damn about how many Russians die. The one thing that he can’t tolerate and live with, if we go after his customers,” Graham emphasised.

“The whole goal is to crush his customers, India, and China, and Brazil. That if you keep buying Putin’s oil and prop up his war machine, you will be denied access to our economy. This is a new strategy. Trump is all in, in terms of going after Putin’s customers if we can’t end this well. Without oil and gas revenue, Russia collapses,” he said.

Trump, in his first months back in office, has sought to end the war in Ukraine without success. He confirmed last week that he will host Putin in Alaska on August 15 for talks aimed at resolving the conflict.

“The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Last August 6, Trump announced a 25% tariff increase on India over its purchases of Russian oil, bringing total tariffs on the country to 50%. The measure, authorised via executive order, will take effect in about a month. It follows a separate 25% “reciprocal” tariff the president recently imposed on India.

By Aghakazim Guliyev