A file photo of the US Congress in Washington, DC.
A growing number of US senators from both major political parties plan to increase sanctions against Russia and give Congress the authority to prevent President Donald Trump from lifting sanctions on Moscow unilaterally.
On Wednesday, a group six Republican and Democratic senators, plan to introduce legislation that would impose strict new congressional oversight and veto power over the Trump administration if it decided to lift sanctions on Russia.
The Russia Sanctions Review Act is the latest warning from Congress to the new administration over Trump's desire to improve relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, and one of the co-sponsors of the bill said Russia has done nothing to be rewarded with sanctions relief.
Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland, who also co-sponsored the bill, said the bill gives Congress the opportunity to act if it disagrees with Trump's Russia policies.
Republican Senators John McCain of Arizona and Marco Rubio of Florida are also backing the bill, along with Democratic Senators Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Sherrod Brown of Ohio.
The new measure comes as about a dozen senators from both parties are lobbying their colleagues to endorse a separate bill that would impose a comprehensive set of sanctions against Russia.
During his presidential election campaign and afterwards, Trump repeatedly praised Putin and called for closer ties between Washington and Moscow, despite allegations that Russia had interfered in the 2016 US presidential election.
Relations between Washington and Moscow deteriorated during the administration of former President Barack Obama over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
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