If the US imposes new sanctions, Russia will respond accordingly.

If new sanctions against Russia are approved, Moscow will respond in kind, The National Interest writes.

Illustration photo: AFP

A few days ago, the US Senate passed new sanctions against Russia. The amended bill awaits a vote in the House of Representatives.

While discussing the amendment, supporters of the bill agreed that previous measures had not had a significant economic impact on Russia. US senators did not elaborate on what the new package of measures would mean economically and what policy changes they hoped would result from Moscow.

The Trump administration has yet to agree on new sanctions. National Economic Council Director Harry Young has hinted that the White House may support them. However, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has spoken out against them, saying they would undermine efforts by Moscow and Washington to ease tensions.

If the bill is approved, Russia will seek something in return, NI writes.

Ahead of the Senate vote, representatives of Russia’s elite have warned that Russia is ready to respond decisively to new sanctions. According to polls by the Levada Center, 70% of Russians oppose making concessions to the US on sanctions. Talks from Germany and Austria have only emboldened the Kremlin to take more decisive steps.

Mr Trump finds himself in a difficult situation: Congress’s strong desire to antagonise Russia is hampering his efforts to establish relations. Shunning the lawmakers’ initiative is a politically risky move.

“One thing is clear: when Trump meets Mr Putin at the G20 summit next month, he will have to make extraordinary efforts to maintain the balance,” the author concludes.

According to Sputnik