US sanctions mean we are in a trade war, says Russia

Trump signs bill behind closed doors then accuses Republican Congress of acting ‘unconstitutionally’

DONALD TRUMP reluctantly signed a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia yesterday, with Moscow saying the move ended hopes for better relations between the two countries.

The US president himself called the measure “seriously flawed” and attacked Congress for forcing his hand.

Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian prime minister, said the new sanctions were tantamount to a “full-scale trade war”. He said the move showed the Trump administration was powerless. “The hope that our relations with the new American administration would improve is finished,” he wrote on Facebook.

Mr Trump had privately opposed the move and approved the bill behind closed doors, unlike other bill signings for which he has invited television cameras into the White House.

The president then issued a scathing statement which exacerbated divisions between himself and members of his own Republican Party in Congress, saying he had only consented to the new law “for the sake of national unity”.

Mr Medvedev said the move was an attempt by the “US establishment” to remove Mr Trump from power. “The issue of new sanctions came about, primarily, as another way to knock Trump down a peg,” he said. “New steps are to come, and they will ultimately aim to remove him from power.”

Mr Trump had wanted the power to alter sanctions to give him room for diplomatic manoeuvre with Russia, with whom he has repeatedly suggested friendlier relations. But the bill, which was passed overwhelmingly by the Republican-controlled Congress last week, prevents him from doing so without Congressional approval.

Mr Trump accused Congress of acting

‘I built a company worth billions. I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress’

“unconstitutionally” and “encroaching on the executive branch’s authority”.

He said: “The bill remains seriously flawed. The framers of our Constitution put foreign affairs in the hands of the president. This bill will prove the wisdom of that choice.

“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.”

Mr Trump said he hoped there would be “cooperation” with Russia “on major global issues so that these sanctions will no longer be necessary”. Russia’s foreign ministry said that new US sanctions amounted to “dangerous” and “short-sighted” policy.

In a statement, the ministry said the move had put global stability at risk, adding that the measures amounted to “hostile action”. The Russian government added that counter measures were being considerd.

The sanctions are aimed at punishing Moscow for interfering in the 2016 US presidential election.

They also penalise Russia for its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria. Russia’s energy sector is targeted with new limits on US investment in Russian companies. US companies will also be banned from engaging in energy exploration projects in which Russian firms have more than a third stake.

The European Union says the sanctions might impact its energy security. Jean-claude Juncker, the European Commission president, said Europe would take counter-measures if the US sanctions harmed its companies involved in oil and gas projects with Russia. He said: “We must defend our economic interests.”

Meanwhile, Mike Pence, the US vicepresident, lambasted Russia for trying to “destabilise” the Western Balkans. On a visit to Montenegro, the newest Nato member, Mr Pence said: “The president and Congress are unified in our message to Russia. A better relationship, the lifting of sanctions, will require Russia to reverse the actions that caused the sanctions to be imposed in the first place.”