Russian Deputy FM: 'Absolutely Illegitimate' US Sanctions Erode Bilateral Trust

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said Tuesday that the new anti-Russia sanctions imposed by the United States are "absolutely illegitimate" and erode bilateral trust between Washington and Moscow.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The US sanctions against Russia, which are currently being discussed in the United States, are absolutely illegitimate, they do not contribute to the development of trust between Moscow and Washington, Bogdanov said.

"These are absolutely illegitimate actions that do not contribute to the development of mutual understanding and the necessary level of trust between us and the Americans," Bogdanov said after more than three hours of talks with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari.

Six days after the House approved an anti-Russian sanctions package on July 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday that the diplomatic presence of the United States in Russia would be cut by 755 people to 455, the same number of diplomatic personnel that Russia currently has in the US.

On Monday, Vice President Mike Pence said Trump will soon sign into law the new legislation that enhances US sanctions against Russia. It passed by overwhelming majorities of 419 to 3 in the House of Representatives and by 98 to two in the Senate.