2 August 2017, 20:01 GMT
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Eliot Engel said on Wednesday lawmakers stand ready to hold President Donald Trump accountable if he becomes too friendly with Russia.
Earlier in the day, Trump signed into law a bill, overwhelmingly approved by the US Congress, that stipulates tougher sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea. The sanctions target Russia's defense, intelligence, mining, shipping and railway industries and restrict dealings with Russian banks and energy companies.
"I hope Congress doesn't need to invoke the review provisions written into this law, but if the President continues to cozy up to Russia, lawmakers won't hesitate to act," Engel said in a release.
On Tuesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said the new US sanctions against Russia were "absolutely illegitimate" and did not contribute to the development of trust between Moscow and Washington.
