A couple of days ago I saw Dr Gorka being interviewed re this law. He said the bill in the House had got better due to input from the WH. Still it was not perfect. Then of course it went back to the Senate. Do not know what happened in that esteemed locality. (Yes, I was being sarcastic.) However, I heard on (Swedish) radio this morning that the ban on Russia will also affect companies working on the trans-Baltic pipeline between Russia and Germany.
The DC politicians were so critical of President Trump during the NATO and G20 meetings because he did not fall in line with the European allies. Well, if anything will cause a rift between the EU (and esp Germany) and the US it is this bill. Congress’s own bill.
Of course Putin won’t like further sanctions, but he can be happy about a much deeper split between the US and Europe.
Well played Congress! Well played!
France expressed anger about it too. The news is still spinning that Trump is too soft on Russia, and that is the issue. Congress is getting a pass from the US press. Not from the European press though. focuses on Trump's threat to veto, and that he is "undre pressure" to sign
Given the congressional investigations into possible collusion between his campaign and the Kremlin, and considering that the Republican Party has majorities in the House and the Senate, he is under considerable pressure not to veto the sanctions.
The usual dishonesty from the press. Misses the outrage from German, France, and many other countries. The Congressional sanctions are called illegal under international law, and will end up in international court if passed.
Congress, creating the international friction that Trump refuses to instigate.