5 times the Trump administration actually was tough on Russia

The Trump administration is often criticized for being hesitant to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House has frequently pushed back on that notion. Here's what the Trump administration has actually done to confront Russian aggression. Despite President Donald Trump'snational-security advisers' note reminding him "DO NOT CONGRATULATE" Russian President Vladimir Putin on his election victory during their call on Tuesday,Trump did anyway.When asked whether Trump thought Putin's election victory was free and fair during a press briefing that day, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders demurred."We're focused on our elections," she said. "We don't get to dictate how other countries operate."During another press briefing last month, Sanders argued Trump had been "tougher on Russia in the first year than [former President Barack] Obama was in eight years combined."This argument has become a frequent line of defense Trump officials have used when pressed about the administration's complicated relationship with Russia.Trump, whose response to the US intelligence community's assessment that Russia meddled in the 2016 US election has been lukewarm at best, is often perceived as being hesitant to confront the Kremlin's aggression.But the Trump administration has actually taken some concrete actions against Russia. Here are five examples:SEE ALSO:John McCain blasts Trump for congratulating Putin on winning 'sham election'DON'T MISS:Trump is furious and the White House is stunned over a damaging leak about his call with PutinSanctionsOn March 15, the Trump administration announced new sanctions on Russia for its attempts to interfere in the 2016 US election.The sanctions were scheduled to be implemented earlier this year, but Trumpbacked down, arguing that the sanctions bill he signed last August was already working as a deterrent against Russia.Trump originally signed the sanctions billofficially called the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Actlast August, albeitbegrudgingly.The sanctions bill also imposes a wide range of sanctions on North Korea and Iran.Closing of diplomatic facilitiesAfter Congress approved Russia-related sanctions last summer, Russia expelled 755 American diplomats from the country.In response, the Trump administration orderedRussia to close three of its diplomatic facilities in the US, including its consulate in San Francisco, and two annexes in Washington, DC, and New York City.Arms sale to UkraineIn December, Trump announced his support for the sale of lethal munitions to the Ukrainian government in its fight against Russian-backed separatists in the country's Donbas region, a move that angered Russia, whichhas been engaged in a hybrid war in the region for the past four years.The State Department officially approved $47 million weapons salein early March. It included Javelin launchers and anti-tank missiles.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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