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MOSCOW. – With a new sanctions bill enacted on Wednesday, the United States has declared a full-scale trade war against Russia, killing hope for easing the tension in bilateral relations, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said. “The hope of improving our relations with the new US administration has come to an end,” Medvedev said Wednesday on the social media Facebook, commenting on the signing into law of a new US sanctions bill by US President Donald Trump.
Calling it “significantly flawed”, Trump on Wednesday signed into law the bill that also imposes sanctions against Tehran and Pyongyang. The bill was approved overwhelmingly in July by the US Congress despite the White House urge for a “flexibility” in dealing with Russia, partly representing a bipartisan move to punish Moscow over its alleged meddling in the US presidential election last year.
Trump’s reluctant signature highlights more difficulties ahead in diplomatic efforts for both Washington and Moscow to resolve their conflict on such thorny issues as of the Middle East and Ukraine. It also fully displays increasing troubles for Trump at home, such as crippled legislative agenda marked by failed efforts against his predecessor Barack Obama’s signature health care system, in the aftermath of an alleged collusion with Russia of his campaign camp.
The Trump administration demonstrated “complete impotence, in the most humiliating manner, transferring executive powers to Congress,” commented Medvedev.
As the new sanction regime makes it difficult to remove the measures against Moscow that may last decades, Medvedev foresaw little room for improving bilateral ties.
“The relationship between Russia and the United States will be extremely tense, regardless of the composition of the Congress or the personality of the president,” he said.
The Russian prime minister slightly indicated a possible economic retaliation by saying that Russia will reduce reliance on western imports.
In a preemptive diplomatic move against the US new sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Sunday a reduction of 755 staff in the US diplomatic mission in Russia by September 1.
President Putin meanwhile voiced disappointment over Washington in an interview with a Russian TV station aired on Sunday. – Xinhua.
Online Reporter