Russia's Retaliation Imminent as Obama Gives Go Signal for Sanctions Risking EU Rift
The United States will push through with more sanctions over Russia as the White House confirms the president's plan to sign the new bill passed. According to reports, President Barrack Obama has signaled to sign the legislation imposing more pressure on Vladimir Putin while sending aid to Ukraine. Will the bill bring more good or the other way around?
The US president was not on board with the plans to sanction Russia more but the Congress found a way to pass the bill without so much opposition. According to The New York Times, White House press secretary Josh Earnest confirms: "The president does intend to sign the piece of legislation that was passed by Congress."
The official also adds: "But we do have some concerns about that legislation because while it preserves flexibility, it does send a confusing message to our allies because it includes some sanctions language that does not reflect the consultations that are ongoing."
The press secretary goes as far to say that Russia's problems at the moment are the country's or the president's own doing. According to Earnest: "It's a sign of the failure of Vladimir Putin's strategy to try to buck up his country."
"Right now, he and his country are isolated from the broader international community." He added.
According to Financial Times, regardless of the intentions of the legislation, signing the bill has concerned many particularly for possible European implications. The legislation can cause a rift between the US and its European allies. Although the sanctions may have limited immediate impact, they do offer groundwork to execute tougher regulations like what happened in Iran.
Russian warned previously that if the US will push for more sanctions then the country will respond. The impending sanctions threaten to affect a range of weapons companies transacting with Russia. Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov shared with Interfax (via Newsweek) that the country "will not be able to leave this without a response." Further, Ryabkov said that the Ukraine Freedom Support Act may "destroy the carcass of cooperation" existing between Russia and the US.
According to reports, Russia is bound to act to a certain extent following the sanctions.