SANCTIONS: Russia retaliates, seizes 2 U.S. properties, orders Embassy to cut staff

Vladimir Putin’s Russia has retaliated after US Congress approved additional sanctions on Moscow.

Russia, which has been accused of meddling in the 2016 US election, reportedly seized two American diplomatic properties and said that the United States Embassy should reduce its staff by September.

The move by Russia came a day after the United States Senate approved a measure to expand economic sanctions against Russia, as well as against Iran and North Korea.

Read also: Russian intelligence attempted to spy on Macron’s election campaign, reports say

“Russia’s response to the new sanctions was inevitable,” Aleksei Pushkov, a legislator and frequent commentator on international affairs, wrote on Twitter. “There is a high probability that this will not be the end of it,” he added.

The bill to slap new sanctions on Russia was overwhelmingly agreed to, and passed into law by the U.S. House of Representatives two days ago.

Also, in a rare rebuke, President Donald Trump will be forced to obtain lawmakers’ permission before easing any sanctions on Moscow.

The bill has been sent to the president, with uncertainty over whether or not he will sign or veto it.

This is coming as lawmakers investigate possible meddling by Russia in the last presidential election and potential collusion by Republican Trump’s campaign.

 

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