Brussels was able to achieve a softening of the US law on new sanctions against Russia. This was reported by Russia's permanent representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov. However, in his opinion, there is no reason to rejoice.

The US bill on new sanctions against Russia, Iran and the DPRK caused an extremely negative reaction from Europeans, because it directly affects their commercial interests. Therefore, Brussels has taken all possible measures to explain to Washington - such steps, to put it mildly, unfriendly. Knock it out, believes Chizhov.

"It was possible, for example, to replace the wording from the fact that the US president" must "to" apply "sanctions," the Russian diplomat told RIA Novosti commenting on the article of the law on pipelines. According to him, the Europeans had to try very hard: the EU representatives worked on this issue with the administration of the White House, and with the congressmen.

Earlier, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker noted that the authors of the bill listened to the opinion of Europeans and softened the provisions of the bill.

However, this is not a reason to believe that the US will listen to the EU's opinion from now on, Chizhov believes.. He warned against unfounded euphoria and Russia, noting that both Trump and Juncker these days emphasize the importance of maintaining US-EU alliance relations. So do not expect that Brussels will categorically oppose Washington.

Moreover, even in the issue of sanctions against the Russian energy sector, which would have a negative impact on European companies, the EU has dispersed: in Germany and France they were recognized as a violation of international law, while the Baltic states, Poland and some others openly rejoiced at them.

This week, US President Donald Trump signed the Congress-initiated law on the expansion of restrictive measures against Russia. The head of the White House called the document "flawed" and unconstitutional, but admitted that he was forced to agree with him "for the sake of the unity of the nation".

On Friday, August 4, Beijing issued a statement that the settlement of disagreements between countries should be conducted through dialogue, and opposed the law on unilateral US sanctions against Russia, the DPRK and Iran.