Putin says proposed new US sanctions result of internal politics in US

A new round of proposed U.S. sanctions on Russia is evidence of an internal political struggle in the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday during his annual question and answer session with Russian citizens.

The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday for new sanctions to punish Russia for its alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, and to force President Donald Trump to get Congress' approval before easing any existing sanctions.

Putin said Washington's policy of imposing sanctions on Moscow on various pretexts had always been to try to contain Russia.

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia would remove its sanctions on other countries if they removed their sanctions imposed on Moscow.

When deciding on extending the sanctions, Russia will consider the attitude of the countries that imposed their sanctions on Moscow, Putin said.