By imposing new sanctions on Russia and condemning a suspected Russian chemical attack in Britain, Washington has hinted at a tougher stance toward Moscow despite President Donald Trump's stated desire for better ties.
In the most significant steps the United States has taken against Russia since Trump took office amid U.S. intelligence agency allegations that Moscow tried to help him win the 2016 election, the U.S. Treasury slapped sanctions on 19 Russian citizens and five entities for election meddling and cyberattacks.
While the Treasury put off targeting oligarchs and officials close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, it said further sanctions are coming and for the first time blamed Moscow for cyberattacks stretching back at least two years that targeted the U.S. power grid, including nuclear facilities.