Trump keeps Russia sanctions as a tool — White House
Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump still has the option to impose sanctions against Russia — but only if he considers such measures necessary, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing.
A journalist asked Leavitt whether Trump supports the sanctions bill against Russia introduced in Congress by Senator Lindsey Graham.
"Look, the President has spoken about his position on sanctions on Russia. He has smartly kept this as a tool in his toolbox if necessary. But i think the Senate and everyone on Captol Hill respects the president is the commander-in-chief for a reason," the press secretary responded.
She reminded reporters that on June 2, the second round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place — an initiative, she said, led by the American president.
"So he's willing to use sanctions if he needs them in the Senate and in the Capitol Hill understand that the president is the commander-in-chief and he's leading United States foreign policy as he should," Leavitt added.
Sanctions against Russia
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that he may impose new sanctions on Russia. However, he has so far refrained from taking action.
On May 27, Trump wrote that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "playing with fire." His comment came after Russia launched massive strikes on Ukraine.
For his part, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States has not yet imposed sanctions, as doing so might prompt Russia to withdraw from the peace negotiations.
