Trump blames Congress for "all-time and very dangerous low" ties with Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed U.S. Congress for causing U.S.-Russian relationship to be at "an all-time and very dangerous low."

"Our relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous

low. You can thank Congress, the same people that can't even give us

HCare (health care)!" Trump wrote on Twitter.

Trump's comments came a day after he signed into law a sanctions bill on Russia, Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), while describing the bill as "seriously flawed."

In laying out his accusation of the sanctions legislation, Trump said

in a statement that the legislation "encroached on the executive

branch's authority to negotiate."

"By limiting the Executive's flexibility, this bill makes it harder

for the United States to strike good deals for the American people,"

said Trump in the statement.

Unlike previous sanctions bills, the new legislation grants U.S.

lawmakers power to block Trump from unilaterally lifting sanctions on

Russia.

The bill was approved overwhelmingly early this month by the U.S.

Congress despite the Trump administration calling on lawmakers to grant

the White House "flexibility" in dealing with Russia.

In retaliation for the new sanctions legislation, Moscow had already

ordered the U.S. diplomatic mission in Russia to cut its staff by 755

people.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Moscow was reserving

the right to take further retaliatory measures in response to the

sanctions bill signed by Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

on Sunday announced Moscow's decision to reduce the U.S. diplomatic

staff in Russia by 755 people, including U.S. and Russian nationals, by

Sept. 1.

In making the announcement, Putin said that Russia had run out of

patience in waiting for relationship with the United States to improve.

"We waited for quite a long time that, perhaps, something will change

for the better," said Putin in an interview with a Russian TV station

aired on Sunday.

"But, judging by everything, if it (bilateral relationship) changes, it will not be soon," said Putin.