Posted June 15, 2017 10:09:01

Photo: Senator John McCain slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the vote. (Reuters: Yuri Gripas)

The US Senate has voted overwhelmingly for new sanctions punishing Russia for meddling in the 2016 election and to force President Donald Trump to get Congress' approval before easing any existing sanctions.

The vote was 97 to two for the legislation, filed as an amendment to an Iran sanctions bill.

It is intended to punish Russia over issues including alleged meddling in the election, annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region, and support for the Government of Syria in that country's six-year-long civil war.

"[Russian President Vladimir Putin's] brazen attack on our democracy is a flagrant demonstration of his disdain and disrespect for our nation," Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona said ahead of the vote.

"But in the last eight months, what price has Russia paid for attacking American democracy?"

The measure sets up a process for Congress to review changes in sanctions, puts into law actions previously established via presidential executive order, and imposes new sanctions on Russians found guilty of human rights abuses or conducting cyber attacks.

It was introduced amid an intense focus in the US capital on relations with Russia and an investigation into whether Mr Trump's associates colluded with Moscow to influence the 2016 election.

'The Senate has finally confronted Russia'

Moscow denies any such activity, which Mr Trump has dismissed as sour grapes by the Democrats he defeated.

James Comey's conclusions and observations are based on instinct and an ingrained sense of protocol gained during a long career as a public servant, Washington correspondent Zoe Daniel writes.

The Iran bill, including the Russia sanctions amendment, was expected to pass the Senate by Thursday (local time).

To take effect, the measure would also have to pass the House of Representatives and be signed into law by Mr Trump.

If Mr Trump objected, some of its backers said they expected enough congressional support to override a veto.

"Today the Senate has finally confronted Russia for interfering in our elections," said Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a leader of the push for the legislation.

"This bipartisan amendment is the sanctions regime that the Kremlin deserves for its actions."

The only two "no" votes on the Russia bill were from Republican Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul.

Reuters/AP

Topics: world-politics, foreign-affairs, donald-trump, united-states