Trump to sign Russia sanctions

The US Senate has voted almost unanimously to slap new sanctions on Russia, with President Donald Trump expected to sign off on the legislation.

Trump

Donald Trump is likely to sign a sanctions bill that includes proposed measures targeting Russia. (AAP)

US President Donald Trump will sign legislation imposing sanctions on Russia, the White House says.

The move follows Moscow's order that the United States cut hundreds of diplomatic staff and warning that it would seize two US diplomatic properties in retaliation for the bill.

The US Senate voted almost unanimously on Thursday to slap new sanctions on Russia, forcing Trump to choose between a tough position on Moscow and effectively dashing his stated hopes for warmer ties with the country or to veto the bill amid investigations in possible collusion between his campaign and Russia.

By signing the bill into law, Trump cannot ease the sanctions against Russia unless he seeks congressional approval.

Moscow's retaliation, announced by the Foreign Ministry on Friday, had echoes of the Cold War.

If confirmed that Russia's move would affect hundreds of staff at the US embassy, it would far outweigh the Obama administration's expulsion of 35 Russians in December.

The legislation was in part a response to conclusions by US intelligence agencies that Russia meddled in the 2016 US presidential election, and to further punish Russia for its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Late on Friday, the White House issued a statement saying Trump would sign the bill after reviewing the final version. The statement made no reference to Russia's retaliatory measures.

Russia had been threatening retaliation for weeks. Its response suggests it has set aside initial hopes of better ties with Washington under Trump, something the US leader, before he was elected, said he wanted.

Relations were already languishing at a post-Cold War low because of the allegations Russian cyber interference in the election was intended to boost Trump's chances, something Moscow flatly denies. Trump has denied any collusion between his campaign and Russian officials.

The Russian Foreign Ministry complained of growing anti-Russian feeling in the United States, accusing "well-known circles" of seeking "open confrontation".

President Vladimir Putin had warned on Thursday Russia would have to retaliate against what he called boorish US behaviour.

Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on Friday the Senate vote was the last straw.


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Source: AAP


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