Setback for Trump as Russia cancels talks with high-ranking US official
Washington/Moscow — Russia cancelled talks with a top US official to protest against the latest sanctions punishing Russian companies and individuals over the conflict in Ukraine. The development is a fresh setback for President Donald Trump’s bid to improve ties with President Vladimir Putin’s government. Under Secretary of State Thomas Shannon had been scheduled to fly to St Petersburg this week to discuss what the two sides call "irritants" in the relationship. But Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the new sanctions left no room for bilateral talks. Previous US sanctions had not brought results and "new attempts to make Russia submit will be equally futile", Ryabkov said. He called the sanctions a "political gift" to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who met with Trump at the White House on Tuesday. The sanctions announcement by the Treasury Department on Tuesday followed a 98-2 vote in the US Senate for legislation that would increase penalties on Russia an...
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