Yesterday (Tuesday), US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson revealed during a public Senate hearing that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) agreed to stop the transfer of payments to families of terrorists.
Earlier, Tillerson warned that the US Senate's bipartisan deal on new set of restrictive measures against Moscow might further worsen relations with Russia and hinder existing efforts on joint US-Russia progress to fight terrorism in Syria.
The legislation also allows new penalties on key elements of the Russian Federation economy, including mining, metals, shipping and railways.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson offered tepid support for the sanctions measure, telling the House Foreign Affairs Committee he agreed "with the sentiment" among lawmakers that Russian Federation must be held accountable for its meddling in the election.
However, he said, "I would urge.allowing the president the flexibility to adjust sanctions to meet the need in what is always an evolving diplomatic situation".
Then-President Barack Obama in late December ordered sanctions on Russian spy agencies, closed two Russian compounds and expelled 35 diplomats the USA said were really spies.
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The US should develop a "more flexible" approach to the Ukrainian crisis instead of just strictly tying anti-Russian sanctions to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. Citing alleged Russia's "interference" in the 2016 presidential election in the USA, as well as the situations in Crimea and in Syria, the senators say they want new sanctions imposed on Moscow. Cardin, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said at the time that the measure was styled after 2015 legislation pushed by Republicans and approved overwhelmingly in the Senate that gave Congress a vote on whether Obama could lift sanctions against Iran. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is conducting a separate probe.
"It may have a certain impact on the plans of those senators who are standing on anti-Russian positions but cover their calls for more anti-Russian sanctions with the claims that thus they are helping out the President". The bill also prohibits lifting any executive sanctions imposed on Russian Federation by the Obama administration without congressional review.
"There have been talks about making the payments in a different way, but not ending them", said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on discussions held with the Americans.
The contradictory statements were somewhat confusing, with Tillerson appearing to be personally conflicted himself about what is happening, as opposed to what he believed would be happening, in response to his efforts and those of President Donald Trump to reach out to the PA leadership to create a springboard for new peace talks.
"This bipartisan amendment is the sanctions regime that the Kremlin deserves for its actions", she said.
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