U.S. imposes new sanctions on Russian oligarchs, government officials

The Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on Russia for "worldwide malign activity," including sanctions on seven oligarchs, 17 senior government officials, 12 Russian companies, and one state-owned company and its subsidiary bank, ABC News reports.

"The sanctions are designed to penalize some of Russia's richest industrialists, who are seen in the West as enriching themselves from [Russian President Vladimir Putin's] increasingly authoritarian administration," The New York Times writes.

President Trump has been criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike for being too soft on Moscow, given the evidence that Russia sought to sow discord during the 2016 presidential election. Friday's sanctions, which stem from legislation passed by Congress last year, "will only hasten the slide of Washington-Moscow relations," the Times says.

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