Pushkov sees U.S. Congress bill on new sanctions against Syria's allies as 'mine being laid under Trump'
MOSCOW. May 18 (Interfax) - U.S. congressmen want to hamper possible cooperation between Russia and the United States in the fight against Islamic State (ISIL) terrorists by proposing introduction of sanctions against Syria's allies, Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian Federation Council information policy commission and a member of the Federation Council defense committee, said on Thursday.
"By seeking to impose sanctions on Syria's allies, the U.S. Congress wants to derail the very possibility of cooperation between the U.S. and Russia in countering ISIL [terrorist organization, outlawed in Russia]. It is another mine being laid under [U.S. President Donald] Trump," Pushkov wrote on his Twitter account.
On Wednesday, the U.S. House passed a bill, which, if approved by the Senate, will require the U.S. president to introduce sanctions against allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the U.S. political news website The Hill said.
The proposed measure imposes new restrictions on foreigners who have financial relationships with the Syrian government and enterprises controlled by it. If the legislation is adopted, these individuals will be denied a U.S. visa and any assets owned by them in the U.S. will be frozen.