Sputnik - The US administration is supportive of being tough on Russia, particularly in putting sanctions in place, according to Sarah Sanders, currently serving as deputy White House press secretary.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) The US administration is supporting sanctions againstRussia proposed bythe US Congress, Sarah Sanders, currently serving asdeputy White House press secretary, said Sunday.
Earlier inthe day, White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said that US President Donald Trump had not decided yet whether tosupport anti-Russian sanctions or not todo so.
"The administration is supportive ofbeing tough onRussia, particularly inputting these sanctions inplace," Sanders told the ABC broadcaster.
On Saturday, the text ofthe sanctions bill targeting Russia, Iran and North Korea was published onthe website ofthe Congress. The voting inthe House ofRepresentatives will reportedly take place onTuesday.
In particular, the bill views Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project asa threat toenergy security ofUkraine and the European Union and suggests providing US allies withfinancial aid tocounter alleged Russian influence and possible cyberattacks byRussian hackers.
Earlier inthe day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik that Moscow viewed the bill negatively.
Also onSaturday, media reports emerged citing a statement bya representative ofthe European Commission that the European Union warned Washington againstunilateral tightening ofsanctions againstMoscow.