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| US House of Representatives votes on new sanctions against Russia (WATCH LIVE) | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The House is voting on a bill that would impose new sanctions against Russia and require US President Donald Trump to get permission from Congress before lifting or easing the existing sanctions. The bill also includes economic penalties against Iran and North Korea. | The House is voting on a bill that would impose new sanctions against Russia and require US President Donald Trump to get permission from Congress before lifting or easing the existing sanctions. The bill also includes economic penalties against Iran and North Korea. |
| US lawmakers are seeking to punish Russia over a host of issues including its alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election, its support of the Syrian government, alleged support of the rebels in Ukraine, as well as Crimea’s accession to Russia. | US lawmakers are seeking to punish Russia over a host of issues including its alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election, its support of the Syrian government, alleged support of the rebels in Ukraine, as well as Crimea’s accession to Russia. |
| The sanctions target a wide array of entities and individuals – including Russia’s energy sector, banks, weapons manufacturers as well as those whom the US has accused of interfering in the presidential election through hacking and otherwise. | The sanctions target a wide array of entities and individuals – including Russia’s energy sector, banks, weapons manufacturers as well as those whom the US has accused of interfering in the presidential election through hacking and otherwise. |
| After pressure from US energy companies that want to do business in Russia, the legislation was amended to allow American businesses to work with Russian entities on certain oil and gas projects outside of Russia, as long as they don’t involve a sanctioned Russian individual or company owning a 33 percent stake or more. | After pressure from US energy companies that want to do business in Russia, the legislation was amended to allow American businesses to work with Russian entities on certain oil and gas projects outside of Russia, as long as they don’t involve a sanctioned Russian individual or company owning a 33 percent stake or more. |
| If signed into law, the measure would effectively cement the existing sanctions against Russia by requiring the administration to receive permission from Congress before lifting or easing the economic penalties against Moscow. | If signed into law, the measure would effectively cement the existing sanctions against Russia by requiring the administration to receive permission from Congress before lifting or easing the economic penalties against Moscow. |
| To reverse each of the sanctions, the administration would have to provide evidence and certify that the conditions that prompted them have been removed. | To reverse each of the sanctions, the administration would have to provide evidence and certify that the conditions that prompted them have been removed. |
| Despite expressing doubts about Russia’s alleged interference in his election, President Trump intends to sign the legislation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Sunday. | Despite expressing doubts about Russia’s alleged interference in his election, President Trump intends to sign the legislation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Sunday. |
| The White House opposed a similar bill which the Senate passed last month, saying that it would erode the president’s authority to determine foreign policy. However, the lawmakers’ overwhelming support for the sanctions would likely quash the president’s potential veto. | The White House opposed a similar bill which the Senate passed last month, saying that it would erode the president’s authority to determine foreign policy. However, the lawmakers’ overwhelming support for the sanctions would likely quash the president’s potential veto. |
| Russia has repeatedly denied any collusion with the Trump campaign or interference in the 2016 election. | Russia has repeatedly denied any collusion with the Trump campaign or interference in the 2016 election. |
| “If Trump signs the sanctions bill, he will not calm down his enemies – they desire his impeachment. But he will inflict double damage – to relations with Russia and the European Union at the same time,” Russian senator Aleksey Pushkov said. | “If Trump signs the sanctions bill, he will not calm down his enemies – they desire his impeachment. But he will inflict double damage – to relations with Russia and the European Union at the same time,” Russian senator Aleksey Pushkov said. |
| EU authorities have urged US lawmakers to coordinate their anti-Russian actions with European partners. “Unilateral measures” could undermine transatlantic unity and have “unintended consequences,” the European Commission warned in a special address on Monday. | EU authorities have urged US lawmakers to coordinate their anti-Russian actions with European partners. “Unilateral measures” could undermine transatlantic unity and have “unintended consequences,” the European Commission warned in a special address on Monday. |
| The legislation aims to introduce individual sanctions for investing in Russian energy projects. It also outlines steps to hamper construction of Russian company Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. | The legislation aims to introduce individual sanctions for investing in Russian energy projects. It also outlines steps to hamper construction of Russian company Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. |
| “We are concerned the measures discussed in the US Congress could have unintended consequences, not only when it comes to Transatlantic/G7 unity, but also on EU economic and energy security interests,” the commission stated. | “We are concerned the measures discussed in the US Congress could have unintended consequences, not only when it comes to Transatlantic/G7 unity, but also on EU economic and energy security interests,” the commission stated. |
| Germany and Austria in particular spoke out against punitive actions by the US following the approval of the bill by US senators last month. A joint statement issued by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern noted the need for the 28-member bloc to expand its energy supply network. | Germany and Austria in particular spoke out against punitive actions by the US following the approval of the bill by US senators last month. A joint statement issued by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern noted the need for the 28-member bloc to expand its energy supply network. |
| “We can’t accept the threat of illegal and extraterritorial sanctions against European companies,” the politicians charged. “Europe’s energy supply is a matter for Europe, and not for the United States of America.” | “We can’t accept the threat of illegal and extraterritorial sanctions against European companies,” the politicians charged. “Europe’s energy supply is a matter for Europe, and not for the United States of America.” |
| The new measures introduced by the US were primarily about “selling American liquefied natural gas and ending the supply of Russian natural gas to the European market,” the officials added. | The new measures introduced by the US were primarily about “selling American liquefied natural gas and ending the supply of Russian natural gas to the European market,” the officials added. |
| Ahead of US lawmakers clearing all potential hurdles for the bill, a number of American multinationals – including ExxonMobil, General Electric and Boeing, as well as MasterCard and Visa – raised concerns that the punitive measures will ultimately harm their interests, rather than those of the Kremlin. | Ahead of US lawmakers clearing all potential hurdles for the bill, a number of American multinationals – including ExxonMobil, General Electric and Boeing, as well as MasterCard and Visa – raised concerns that the punitive measures will ultimately harm their interests, rather than those of the Kremlin. |