March 26, 2026
Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
To encourage Hungary to end its reliance on Russian energy and prevent Hungary’s efforts to obstruct financial or security assistance to Ukraine, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Barring Leverage and Obstruction that Contributes to Kremlin Profits Undermining Transatlantic Interests and NATO Act
or the BLOCK PUTIN Act
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
(1)
The Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has demonstrated the strategic risks of Europe’s dependence on the Russian Federation for energy, specifically oil and gas.
(2)
Following the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States, the European Union, and their partners imposed broad, punitive sanctions on the Russian Federation that limited the Russian Federation’s income from energy.
(3)
In May 2022, the European Commission launched the REPowerEU initiative to phase out dependence on Russian energy sources before 2028.
(4)
Since February 2022, the European Union has subsequently reduced its dependence on Russian fossil fuels by approximately 90 percent by cutting oil imports by more than 90 percent and reducing pipeline gas deliveries by roughly 80 percent.
(5)
Most European countries have undertaken significant measures to reduce their Russian energy imports in accordance with the REPowerEU initiative, but Hungary and Slovakia requested exemptions to the timeline.
(6)
Since February 2022, Hungary increased its dependence on Russian energy by an estimated 30 percent, providing approximately $6,700,000,000 in crude oil revenue to the Russian Federation between February 24, 2022, and December 31, 2024.
(7)
On September 23, 2025, President Donald Trump said member countries of the European Union had to immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia
.
(8)
On October 23, 2025, the Council of the European Union adopted the 19th package of restrictive measures against the Russian Federation, including—
(A)
a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas into the European Union;
(B)
a full transaction ban on Rosneft and Gazprom Neft;
(C)
measures against third-country operators (which enable the Russian Federation’s revenue streams), 2 Chinese refineries, and a Chinese oil trader; and
(D)
strengthened enforcement against maritime circumvention and the shadow fleet
.
(9)
In October 2025, the United States imposed secondary sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft.
(10)
Hungary has shown no sign of reducing its dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
(11)
In November 2025, Hungary reportedly received an exemption from sanctions imposed by the United States related to its continued purchase of Russian oil and gas.
(12)
In February 2026, Hungary blocked a €90,000,000,000 loan package by the European Union intended for Ukraine’s military and budget support and blocked the proposed 20th European Union sanctions package, demanding in exchange the resumption of Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.
(13)
Slovakia has vowed to follow Hungary’s example and block the provision of European Union funds to Ukraine if Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban loses his election.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress; statement of policy
(a) Sense of congress
It is the sense of Congress that it is in the national security interests of the United States—
(1)
to encourage countries to diversify from Russian energy; and
(2)
for European Union member states to finance support for Ukraine.
(b) Statement of policy
It shall be the policy of the United States to hold Hungary accountable for actions that undermine the national security interests of the United States described in subsection (a).
Sec. 4. Imposition of sanctions
(a) In general
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to the individuals described in subsection (b).
(b) Individuals described
The individuals described in this subsection are senior officials of the Government of Hungary that, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act—
(1)
direct, approve, or take steps to block, delay, or otherwise obstruct additional financial or security assistance to Ukraine through bilateral, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or other multilateral mechanisms; or
(2)
approve or continue to facilitate oil or natural gas imports from the Russian Federation.
(c) Sanctions described
The sanctions described in this subsection are the following:
(1) Blocking of property
The President shall exercise all of the powers granted to the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (except that the requirements of section 202 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in property and interests in property of an individual described in subsection (b) if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person.
(2) Inadmissibility of certain individuals
(A) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole
An alien described in subsection (b) is—
(i)
inadmissible to the United States;
(ii)
ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii)
otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(B) Current visa revoked
(i) In general
An alien described in subparagraph (A) is subject to revocation of any visa or other entry documentation regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is or was issued.
(ii) Immediate effect
A revocation under clause (i) shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i))—
(I)
take effect immediately; and
(II)
automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien’s possession.
(d) Exceptions
(1) Decreased dependency on Russian oil and gas and allowing assistance to Ukraine
The President shall not impose sanctions under this section if the Government of Hungary has—
(A)
formally adopted and begun implementation of a public, time-bound plan to end the dependency of Hungary on oil and natural gas imports from the Russian Federation that includes a binding commitment to achieve substantial diversification of oil and natural gas imports before 2028; and
(B)
for a continuous period of not less than 180 days, ceased any official action, to block, delay, or otherwise obstruct additional financial or security assistance to Ukraine through bilateral, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or other multilateral mechanisms.
(2) Compliance with international obligations and law enforcement activities
Sanctions under this section shall not apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling the alien into the United States is necessary—
(A)
to comply with United States obligations under—
(i)
the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947;
(ii)
the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967; or
(iii)
any other international agreement; or
(B)
to carry out or assist law enforcement activity in the United States.
(3) Exception for intelligence activities
Sanctions under this section shall not apply to—
(A)
any activity subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); or
(B)
any authorized intelligence activities of the United States.
(e) Waiver
The President may waive the application of sanctions under this section for a period not to exceed 180 days if the President determines and certifies to the appropriate committees of Congress that—
(1)
the waiver is vital to the national security interests of the United States; and
(2)
the individual has committed to refrain from engaging in any action described in subsection (b) for a period of not less than one year.
(f) Termination
This section shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of State submits to the appropriate committees of Congress a written certification that the Government of Hungary has—
(1)
formally adopted and begun implementation of a public, time-bound plan to end the dependency of the country on oil and natural gas imports from the Russian Federation that includes a binding commitment to achieve substantial diversification of oil and natural gas imports by not later than one year from the date of such termination; and
(2)
for a continuous period of not less than 180 days, ceased any official action to block, delay, or otherwise obstruct additional financial or security assistance to Ukraine through bilateral, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or other multilateral mechanisms.
(g) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien; lawfully admitted for permanent residence
The terms admission
, admitted
, alien
, and lawfully admitted for permanent residence
have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).
(2) Appropriate committees of congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
(A)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(3) United states person
The term United States person means—
(A)
a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
(B)
an entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity; or
(C)
any person located in the United States.
Sec. 5. Report on United States Government facilitation of Hungarian purchases of Russian oil and gas
(a) In general
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State shall jointly submit to the committees specified in subsection (c) a report that provides the justification for any United States Government facilitation of purchases of Russian Federation oil and national gas by the Government of Hungary or any related entities.
(b) Elements
The report required by subsection (a) shall include—
(1)
a detailed description of—
(A)
any license or comfort letter issued on or after October 22, 2025, to, or for the benefit of, the Government of Hungary or Hungarian individuals or entities that were related to oil, petroleum products, or natural gas of Russian Federation origin, including with respect to transactions involving energy companies or financial institutions designated for the imposition of sanctions;
(B)
the period of effectiveness of any license or comfort letter described in subparagraph (A);
(C)
any foreign policy guidance by the Department of State conveyed to the Department of the Treasury related to the issuance of any license or comfort letter described in subparagraph (A); and
(D)
any information communicated to the Government of Hungary regarding the potential renewal or extension any license or comfort letter described in subparagraph (A); and
(2)
an estimate of the total quantity of oil and gas of Russian Federation origin purchased by the Government of Hungary or Hungarian individuals or entities, by volume and dollar value, since the effective date of any license or comfort letter described in paragraph (1)(A).
(c) Committees specified
The committees specified in this subsection are—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
(2)
the Committee of Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.
(d) Form
The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.