Kremlin says no countermeasures following new US sanctions bill

Moscow Aug 3 (IANS) Russia will not take new retaliatory measures following the signing of a new sanctions bill by US President Donald Trump said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The US Congress has passed the bill on Wednesday which will finally become law even without the President s signature said Peskov adding that Wednesday s signing by Trump therefore actually changed nothing Xinhua news agency reported.

The US bill was approved overwhelmingly early this month by the Congress despite the Trump administration calling on lawmakers to grant the White House "flexibility" in dealing with Russia.

"Still the bill remains seriously flawed -- particularly because it encroached on the executive branch s authority to negotiate " Trump said in a statement released by the White House following his signing.

In retaliation for the new US sanctions Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday announced a decision to reduce the US diplomatic staff in Russia by 755 people by September 1.

--IANS
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