House approves ban on Russian oil to US

House speaker Nancy Pelosi (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

The US house of representatives has overwhelmingly approved legislation that would ban Russian oil imports to the United States.

Going further than President Joe Biden’s import ban on Russian oil, the bill making its way through Congress would also encourage a review of Russia’s status in the World Trade Organisation and signal US support for sanctions on Russian officials over human rights violations, as the US works to economically isolate the regime.