The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impose new sanctions on Russia over Moscow's alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election, reports the Financial Times.
The new sanctions package has faced intense scrutiny from Europeans countries with Germany raising concern about the impact new oil pipelines from Russia by limiting companies access to US banks.
The European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, warned that “unintended unilateral effects” may impact the “EU’s energy security interests,” and stressed “the EU is full committed to the Russia sanctions regime.”
In response the passing of the new sanctions package through the House of Representatives, Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergai Ryabkov warned that normalisation of US relations was more distant than ever.
“Frankly speaking there are practical no chances that the situation will change for the better," he added.