White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday said the United States must see a “significant change” in Russia’s behavior if the nations are to have a positive relationship.
Sanders began her daily press briefing by highlighting the sanctions that the Treasury Department announced Friday morning against Russian oligarchs and companies they own or control.
“As you all saw this morning, the administration has sanctioned seven Russian oligarchs, 12 companies, and 17 top government officials and allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Sanders said.
She went on to say the action taken by the Trump administration supports his statement earlier in the week about nobody being tougher than him on Russia.
“We want a positive relationship with the Russian government, but for this to happen, there must be a significant change in their behavior,” Sanders said.
Last week, the Trump administration expelled 60 Russian intelligence agents and ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle. The punitive measures came after the U.S. and several European countries accused Moscow of poisoning a Russian military intelligence defector and his daughter with a nerve agent in England.
The media largely slammed Trump last month after he called Putin to congratulate him on winning–under notably corrupt conditions–reelection. The administration referred to the call as protocol and some noted former President Barack Obama made a similar call to Putin when he was in the White House in 2012.