Russian President
Vladimir Putin has warned that new sanctions by the US Senate against
Russia will complicate the relations between the two states, noting that
it is too early to talk about retaliatory measures.
Putin made the remarks in an interview with Rossiya1 state TV channel, excerpts of which were released on Saturday.
"This will, indeed, complicate Russia-American relations. I think this is harmful," the Russian president said.
Putin
noted that Russia needs to see how the situation evolves, saying, “That
is why it is premature to speak publicly about our retaliatory
actions.”
The sanctions were approved by the US Senate on Thursday
by 98 to 2, but it still needs to pass the House of Representatives and
be signed by US President Donald Trump to become law. Trump is believed
to be skeptical of anti-Russia moves, and White House spokeswoman Sarah
Huckabee Sanders said on Thursday that the Trump administration was
still reviewing the Senate legislation.
US Senate in session (File photo)
The
sanctions bill mainly affect firms cooperating with Russian oil and gas
companies, including BASF, Shell, Engie, OMV, Wintershall, and Uniper
taking part in the Nord Stream 2 project.
American policymakers
are considering the new round of sanctions in an attempt to punish
Russia for alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and for
backing the government in Damascus since the Syrian crisis started in
March 2011.
Germany and Austria have criticized Senate’s new
anti-Russia sanctions, calling them an instance of American interference
in European affairs.
Russia
and the West have been imposing sanctions against each other since the
Black Sea peninsula of Crimea seceded from Ukraine and rejoind Russia in
2014.
While the West’s economic and financial sanctions harmed
Russian exports, Moscow retaliated by banning imports of Western food
and barred some individuals from entering Russia.
Comments