Donald Trump has warned that US ties with Russia are at a “very dangerous low,” and has blamed Congress for the situation, a day after he reluctantly signed into law a sanctions bill against Moscow.
“Our relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous low,” the US president said in a Twitter post on Thursday. “You can thank Congress.”
Our relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous low. You can thank Congress, the same people that can’t even give us HCare!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2017
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Mr Trump approved the measure on Wednesday, despite calling it “flawed”.
Russia has said that the new sanctions were tantamount to declaring a “full-scale trade war”.
Press TV reports:
Congress passed the new sanctions package last week against Russia, Iran and North Korea. The bill was passed with overwhelming margins, eliminating the prospect of a presidential veto.
Trump signed the bill on Wednesday but strongly criticized it, calling the legislation “significantly flawed” with “unconstitutional provisions.”
Trump also complained that the law, which prevents him from easing sanctions on Russia, infringed on presidential powers to devise foreign policy.
The president had privately opposed the measures and his aides had lobbied against them. Trump has long expressed a desire for better ties with Russia.
The bill imposes tough additional sanctions on Russia over Moscow’s alleged meddling in last year’s US presidential election and Crimea’s reunification with Russia in 2014.
The legislation targets the Russian energy sector, allowing the US to sanction companies involved in developing Russian oil and gas pipelines, and placing restrictions on some Russian arms exporters.
Russia responded by saying the sanctions amounted to a full-scale trade war and an end to hopes for better ties with the Trump administration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered 755 US diplomats to leave the country after Congress passed the bill.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned Sunday that more retaliatory moves would come if the bill was signed into law.
Niamh Harris