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Anti-Russian sanctions

Trump confirms intent to sign military budget with anti-Russian sanctions on Friday

The budget will total $738 billion to cover the Pentagon’s base needs, military operations in Afghanistan and maintaining military capability

US President Donald Trump EPA-EFE/Ron Sachs

US President Donald Trump

© EPA-EFE/Ron Sachs

WASHINGTON, December 20. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will sign the military budget for 2020 financial year (starting on October 1) on Friday.

"I will be signing our 738 Billion Dollar Defense Spending Bill today," he wrote on his Twitter page.

I will be signing our 738 Billion Dollar Defense Spending Bill today. It will include 12 weeks Paid Parental Leave, gives our troops a raise, importantly creates the SPACE FORCE, SOUTHERN BORDER WALL FUNDING, repeals “Cadillac Tax” on Health Plans, raises smoking age to 21! BIG!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2019

Earlier, the US Congress approved the Defense Spending Bill. In accordance with the document, $635 billion is allocated for the Pentagon’s base budget, while $71.5 billion is authorized to carry on military operations in Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen as well as counterterrorism efforts in other countries. Also, $31.5 billion is set aside for maintaining military capability and modernization of nuclear arsenals at the Energy Department as well as other defense spending.

Apart from that, the bill envisages anti-Russian sanctions on a number of points — against the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream gas pipelines and as part of the CAESAR Syria Civilian Protection Act included in the text. The act introduces restrictions for supporting Syrian government forces in the course of the civil war. The document also has a number of provisions regarding Washington's countering various threats, particularly Russia and China. The embargo on direct military cooperation with Moscow is extended, while the US government is prohibited from recognizing Crimea’s reunification with Russia.

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Sanctions vs. Russia

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Ukraine struggles to garner support for Swiss conference — Russian Foreign Ministry

"There are increasingly fewer people willing to discuss this subject with Kiev’s envoys, let alone going there," Rodion Miroshnik stressed

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"Without noticing it themselves, they spoke the language of an ultimatum," Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova underlined

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Russian prosecutor general accuses US of imposing illegitimate sanctions

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German Foreign Ministry confirms summoning of Russian ambassador

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Iran done with retaliation, calls for efforts to stop Israel from reckless steps — MFA

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Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

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