Trump blames Congress for 'all-time low' in Russia ties
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Congress overwhelmingly approved the sanctions last week, leaving Trump with little choice but to sign the legislation although he has long expressed a desire for better ties with Russia.
Even as he signed the bill on Wednesday, Trump strongly criticized it. He complained the measure, which allows Congress to stop him from easing sanctions on Russia, infringed on his presidential powers to shape foreign policy.
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| President Trump. |
Russia responded by saying the sanctions amounted to a full-scale trade war and an end to hopes for better ties with the Trump administration.
"Our relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous low," Trump said in a Twitter post on Thursday.
"You can thank Congress, the same people that can't even give us HCare!" added, referring to a bitter setback this month when his fellow Republicans, who control both chambers in Congress, failed to push healthcare legislation through the Senate.
Trump's desire for better ties with Moscow has been hamstrung by the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies that President Vladimir Putin's government meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign. U.S. congressional panels and a special counsel are investigating. Moscow denies any meddling and Trump denies any collusion by his campaign.
Congress passed the new sanctions to punish Russia over the election interference and the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in 2014. Republicans and Democrats usually are strongly divided on many issues but the measure drew wide support from both parties.
