Russia's Response to US Russia Sanctions Should Be 'Constructive' - Russian MP

Russia should react to possible new US sanctions in a constructive manner and avoid harming chances of restoring ties, Leonid Slutsky, the chairman of the Russian lower house of parliament's International Affairs Committee, said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives approved the bill on another batch of sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea. The bill is yet to be signed by the US Senate and the country’s President Donald Trump. The new restrictions will affect the Russian-EU Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project as well as Russia's defense, intelligence and other industries.

"I think the response should be constructive and useful for Russia, for US-Russian relations, for global politics. It should be considered carefully and weighted up," Slutsky said in an interview with Rossiya 24 television channel.

Slutsky stressed that the Russian stance with regard to the issue should be calibrated to avoid a further deterioration of the situation and the alienate of the US civil society.

The Russian lawmaker also noted that the members of Russian State Duma, Federation Council and civil society were discussing potential retaliatory measures at present.

In addition, Slutsky underscored that there was "great responsibility, including for the future of US-Russian relations, [needed] for our cooperation in combating international terrorism."

In December 2016, Washington adopted a batch of sanctions targeting Russia over Moscow’s alleged interference in the US presidential election, which Moscow has repeatedly denied. As part of the restrictions, the United States expelled 35 Russian diplomats and banned Russia from access to two diplomatic compounds in use by the Russian Embassy in Washington and Russia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.