Fury over sanctions

Russians fuming as Trump reluctantly signs off on measures

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump reluctantly signed off on new sanctions against Russia yesterday, bowing to domestic pressure and putting efforts to improve ties with the Kremlin in peril.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the sanctions amounted to “fullfledged economic war on Russia” and demonstrated Mr Trump’s “total weakness ... in the most humiliating way”. “It ends hopes for improving our relations with the new US administration,” Mr Medvedev boldly declared on Facebook.

Mr Trump signed the legislation behind closed doors, after failed White House efforts to scupper or water down the Bill.

Mr Trump’s reluctance was on full display in an angry signing statement, in which he called the legislation “significantly flawed”.

“In its haste to pass this legislation, the Congress included a number of clearly unconstitutional provisions,” he said, including curbs on the president’s ability to “negotiate” with Russia.

“I built a truly great company worth many billions of dollars. That is a big part of the reason I was elected. As president, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress.”

The legislation – which also includes measures against North Korea and Iran – targets the Russian energy sector, giving Washington the ability to sanction companies involved in developing Russian pipelines, and placing curbs on weapons exporters. It also notably constrains Mr Trump’s ability to waive the penalties, a statement of mistrust from the Republican-controlled Congress, which remains unsettled by Mr Trump’s warm words for President Vladimir Putin.

“The framers of our constitution made the Congress and the president coequal branches of government. This Bill has already proven the wisdom of that choice,” Senator John McCain said.