FOREIGN POLICY/RUSSIA: “Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized new sanctions approved by the U.S. Senate on Thursday [6-15-17], blaming them on domestic political battles in the U.S. and calling for improved ties between the countries.
The U.S. Senate said the new measures were meant to punish Moscow for Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, cyberattacks and interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.
On Thursday, Mr. Putin said there was no reason for the new sanctions and that the move was driven by the controversy in the U.S. over contact between President Donald Trump’s campaign team and Russian officials.
‘It is, of course, evidence of the continuing domestic political battle in the States,’ said Mr. Putin during his annual call-in program, in which he takes questions from Russians across the country.”
-Thomas Grove, “Putin Says New Sanctions on Russia Are Due to Domestic Political Battle in U.S.,” The Wall Street Journal online, June 15, 2017 06:38am