Trump approves new ‘flawed’ Russia sanctions

President Donald Trump has signed into a law a bill which imposes new sanctions on Russia for their alleged meddling in the 2016 election.

The bill, which was signed in private at the White House, also imposes sanctions on Iran and North Korea.

The legislation “handcuffs” the president from easing Russia penalties and he accused Congress of overreach.

Russia denies interfering in the US election, and Mr Trump has denied colluding with Russia.

Moscow had already retaliated by ordering 755 people expelled from the country’s US embassy and consulates.

Several European nations, including Germany, are angry because the new law could penalise companies working on pipelines from Russia, for example by limiting their access to US banks.

In signing the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, Mr Trump attached a statement calling the sanctions “deeply flawed”.

He accused Congress, which last week overwhelmingly passed the measure and sent it to the White House, of overstepping its constitutional authority.