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Putin: Proposed US sanctions result of internal American politics

Senate keen to punish former Cold War rival

Friday, 16th June 2017

Russian President Vladimir Putin. ©Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin

A new round of proposed US sanctions on Russia is evidence of an internal political struggle in the United States, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He was speaking today during his annual question and answer session with Russian citizens.

The US Senate voted overwhelmingly on yesterday for new sanctions to punish Russia for its alleged meddling in the 2016 US election.

They also voted to force President Donald Trump to get Congress' approval before easing any existing sanctions.

Putin said Washington's policy of imposing sanctions on Moscow on various pretexts had always been to try to contain Russia.