Putin: Sanctions on Russia 'malicious step'

By Emre Gurkan Abay

SAVONLINNA, Finland

A U.S. sanctions bill on Russia, Iran, and North Korea is a “malicious step”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

“We will respond to the new possible sanctions against Russia according to the latest version of the bill evaluated by Washington,” Putin said during a meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto at the country's Savonlinna province.

“We stand with patience in the face of the sanctions, but the time we will have to respond to this rudeness is closing,” Putin added.

Putin claimed that the U.S. is using Russia-bashing as domestic political fodder.

“It is sad that the U.S. is sacrificing its relations with Russia due to its domestic problems.

“The countries could overcome more critical problems by taking joint action,” Putin said.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a comprehensive new sanctions bill against Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

The Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, passed by a vote of 419-3, includes sanctions against Russian officials in retaliation for their alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, and against Iran and North Korea in response to their weapons programs.

The vote also amounted to a rebuke of President Donald Trump, whose administration had pushed to water down the bill’s provisions giving Congress the power to veto the lifting of sanctions, according to media reports.

The vote occurred against a backdrop of continuing revelations of ties between Trump’s team and Russian-linked actors, and Trump’s vocal discomfort with probes of the subject.

The measure now needs Senate approval and could be sent to Trump before Congress begins its August recess.