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President Trump Undecided on Tougher Stance on Russia - Reports

© AP Photo / Andrew HarnikA large portion of a famed Magnolia tree, at left, photographed from the Ellipse in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017 and planted on the south grounds of the White House by President Andrew Jackson in 1835 has become too weak to remain standing
A large portion of a famed Magnolia tree, at left, photographed from the Ellipse in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017 and planted on the south grounds of the White House by President Andrew Jackson in 1835 has become too weak to remain standing - Sputnik International
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While the US administration is mulling additional sanctions and other measures against Russia, President Trump’s team is not sure just how far the president is ready to go.

In an effort to persuade President Trump to change his stance on Russia, some top administration in his administration are pushing for a more aggressive posture in the wake of Moscow’s alleged involvement in the March 4 poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK, the New York Times wrote.

White House aides, quoted by the newspaper, said that while the president has become increasingly convinced that Russia is dangerous, he has still refused to embrace a tougher public posture and remains uncertain how far to authorize his administration to go.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S. January 28, 2017 - Sputnik International
White House: Trump Cannot Tolerate Skripal Incident
The United States has expelled 60 Russian diplomats for being "undeclared intelligence officers and closed the Russian Consulate General in Seattle in a show of solidarity with Britain which had earlier expelled 23 Russian diplomats after Prime Minister Theresa May said that Moscow was "highly likely" behind the Skripals’ alleged poisoning.

Besides the US and the UK, 16 EU countries, as well as Canada, Albania, Norway, Ukraine, Macedonia and Australia said they were expelling over 150 Russian diplomats in connection with Moscow's purported involvement in the nerve agent attack in the UK.

READ MORE: Scandal Over Skripal Might be Yet Another Gross Mistake by EU — Politician

In a tit-for-tat move, Russia is expelling an equal number of Western diplomats.

Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious in Salisbury on March 4 after being exposed to what British experts claim was the A234 nerve agent.

Russia has strongly denied any connection to the Skripal case and has offered assistance in the ongoing investigation.

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