New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday said India-US relations are passing through “turbulent times”, with every day presenting a “fresh challenge”, after US President Donald Trump backed a sanctions bill that could impose sweeping tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries purchasing Russian oil.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the bilateral relationship is witnessing a “new abnormal”, despite what he described as appeasing posts by the Indian prime minister.

“Senator Lindsay Graham, a close ally of President Trump, is pushing a Bill that will impose vast new sanctions on India for its trade and other ties with Russia. Earlier, Senator Bernie Moreno had introduced a Bill that proposes a 25 per cent tax on American companies that make outsourcing payments,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

Highlighting further strains, Ramesh said Trump continues to praise Pakistan’s military leadership. “To add to India's extreme discomfiture, President Trump continues to shower lavish praise on Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir,” he said.

“There is undoubtedly a ‘new abnormal’ in the bilateral relationship. Every day is a fresh challenge, appeasing posts from the PM notwithstanding,” the Congress leader added.

Trump has backed a sanctions bill that could impose 500 per cent tariffs on nations buying Russian oil, a move aimed at pressuring countries such as India and China to stop purchasing discounted crude from Moscow.

US Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday said the proposed legislation would give the White House “tremendous leverage” over countries like China, India and Brazil to curb their oil imports from Russia.

“After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others,” Graham said in a post on X.

“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace, and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent. This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries that buy cheap Russian oil, fuelling Putin's war machine,” he said.

Graham said he was hopeful of a strong bipartisan vote on the bill, possibly as early as next week.

Trump has already imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on India — among the highest globally — including a 25 per cent levy linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian energy.

Earlier this week, Graham said Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra had informed him that India was reducing its purchases of Russian oil and had requested him to convey to President Trump to ease the tariffs imposed on the country.

Graham, who was accompanying Trump aboard Air Force One on Sunday, referred to his proposed tariff bill while discussing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

He said pressure must be exerted on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s customers to bring the conflict to an end. Trump remarked that sanctions were hurting Russia badly and then mentioned India. Graham subsequently said that the US had imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India for buying Russian oil.