Donald Trump became less popular with the Russian policymakers. In the old days, deputies of the State Duma interrupted plenary sessions to announce some good news about the US President-elect but nowadays they turned more critical of Mr. Trump. Moreover, the decision of the US strongman to approve the new sanctions package against Russia raised doubts about Trump’s friendly attitude towards Russia.
The new restrictions are applicable to the financial and energy sectors. Besides, the law limits the President’s power regarding this matter. From now on, the Congress will decide whether to impose restrictive measures or not instead of the White House. Previously, the US leader was able to change or abolish any sanctions himself, but now it is a prerogative of the law-making powers. Under these circumstances, the sanctions are unlikely to be lifted in the nearest term. Moscow does not plan to fulfill the Minsk accords and give Ukraine Crimea back. Therefore, the restrictions will remain in place. At the same time, a new campaign against Russia has started. According to the new law, three countries are put under sanctions – Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Just like that: now we have G3 instead of G7.
However, the Russian policymakers are determined to have their revenge on Donald Trump. Reaction to the sanctions is going to be really harsh. The US Embassy has already lost a dacha in a picturesque pine wood. But that is not all. There are rumors that Ataman Andrei Polyakov, the Cossack group’s leader, threatened to revoke Trump’s status of an honorary Russian Cossack. And this is no laughing matter.
