30 July, 2017
U.S. President Donald Trump is going to sign a bill on strengthening sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says in a statement that Trump read early drafts of the bill and "negotiated regarding critical elements of it".
"He has now reviewed the final version and, based on its responsiveness to his negotiations, approves the bill and intends to sign it", she said.
The bill passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday by a vote of 419 to three.
Trump had hoped to improve ties but his administration has been clouded by investigations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help Trump.
The results of the survey, which was conducted from July 7 to 11, before the decision by Congress on Thursday to impose a new round of sanctions, also showed that 77 percent believe it was a self-interested move by the United States to strengthen its own economy.
Russia's Foreign Ministry on Friday ordered a reduction in the number of US diplomats in Russian Federation and said it was closing down a USA recreation retreat in response to fresh sanctions against Russian Federation. Iran has also been slapped with new sanctions for its destabilizing behavior, while Russian Federation is being reprimanded for its alleged meddling in last year's U.S. Presidential election, and other actions undermining Washington's interests.
Relations were already languishing at a post-Cold War low because of the allegations that Russian cyber interference in the election was meant to boost Trump's chances, something Moscow flatly denies. Russian Federation will also close down the embassy's recreational retreat on the outskirts of Moscow as well as warehouse facilities.
Still, signing a bill that penalizes Russia's election interference would mark a significant shift for Trump. The ministry said the sanctions confirm the "extreme aggression of U.S.in global affairs".
The bill also restricts the USA president's ability to unilaterally lift or ease sanctions, forcing him to seek Congressional approval.
The ministry said the number was being cut to 455 diplomats.
The bill, which includes a provision that allows Congress to stop any effort by Trump to ease existing sanctions on Russian Federation, will now be sent to the White House for Trump to sign into law or veto.
Republicans and Democrats have pushed for more sanctions partly as a response to conclusions by United States intelligence agencies that the Kremlin interfered in the election. Both were veto-proof numbers.
Trump has given no firm indication about whether he will sign the bipartisan measure.
His vow to extend a hand of co-operation to Russian president Vladimir Putin has been met with resistance as sceptical politicians look to limit the president's leeway to go easy on Moscow over its meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Asked about a possible veto threat earlier in the week, Corker told reporters: "I don't think that's real". And in that case, Stent said, Putin will come under pressure to act from his political right, hardline nationalists who see the U.S. as Moscow's greatest threat.
A diplomatic source told Reuters that it would be for the United States to decide which posts to cut, whether occupied by usa or Russian nationals.
