Trump signs Russia sanctions bill into law
Russia takes over US compound in Moscow in retaliation
– US President Donald Trump has signed legislation imposing new sanctions on Russia into law, a White House official said on Wednesday.
The US Congress voted last week by overwhelming margins for sanctions to punish the Russian government over interference in the 2016 presidential election, annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea and other violations of international norms.
Trump, who has made clear he wanted to improve relations with Russia, grudgingly accepted the new congressional sanctions, which also included Iran and North Korea. The bill had enough support in Congress to override a presidential veto.
Trump’s signing of the bill followed some conflicting signals from the administration in recent days about the sanctions.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters on Tuesday that he and Trump did not believe the new sanctions would “be helpful to our efforts” on diplomacy with Russia. Vice President Mike Pence said that the bill showed Trump and Congress were speaking “with a unified voice.”
White House adviser Kellyanne Conway confirmed the signing during an interview with Fox News.
Trump’s desire for better relations with Moscow has been hamstrung by findings of US intelligence agencies that Russia interfered to help the Republican against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. US congressional panels and a special counsel are investigating. Moscow denies any meddling and Trump denies any collusion by his campaign.
The Russian ruble weakened slightly following the initial report that Trump had signed the bill.
Also on Wednesday, Meanwhile, Russian authorities took over a summer-house compound in Moscow leased by the US Embassy, five days after the Kremlin ordered Washington to slash its diplomatic presence in Russia.
In retaliation for new US sanctions, President Vladimir Putin has ordered the United States to cut around 60% of its diplomatic staff in Russia by September 1, and said Moscow would seize a dacha country villa used by US Embassy staff and a warehouse.
American employees cleared out the dacha on Tuesday and a Reuters journalist who visited the property on Wednesday saw a large metal padlock securing the front gate.
The one-story building and courtyard, previously used by diplomatic staff at weekends and to host embassy parties, was empty and cleared of barbecue equipment and garden furniture.
Two policemen in a car in front of the main entrance said they had been instructed to guard the property and did not expect any visits from American or Russian officials.
“I don’t know when this situation will change,” one of the policemen said.
Maria Olson, a spokeswoman for the US Embassy, had no immediate comment when contacted by Reuters. She was quoted by Russia’s Interfax news agency as saying the embassy had retrieved all its possessions from the villa, and from the warehouse.
Putin said on Sunday Russia had ordered the United States to cut 755 of its 1,200 diplomatic staff in its embassy and consular operations, though many of those let go will be Russian citizens, with the United States allowed to choose who leaves.
The ultimatum issued by the Russian leader is a display to voters at home that he is prepared to stand up to Washington – but is also carefully calibrated to avoid directly affecting the US investment he needs, or burning his bridges with Trump.
One local Russian employee at the embassy, who declined to be named when speaking to the media, said staff were still in the dark about their future employment.
“They say they will have to cut a lot of jobs – not just diplomats and technical staff, but also in the ancillary services, including drivers, janitors and cooks,” he said. “I hope I won’t be in trouble, but who knows.”