Will President Trump implement new sanctions against Russia?

U.S. President Donald Trump's approval of new sanctions against Russia has triggered a debate as to whether the latest spiral of tensions might lead to a new Cold War between Washington and Moscow.

The legislation, which was approved in Congress by a bipartisan and veto-proof majority, aims to punish Russia's government for its alleged meddling in the country's 2016 presidential elections, the annexation of Crimea and its support to separatists in Ukraine. The sanctions also target Iran and North Korea for their human rights violations and missile development programs, but it is the Russian section that has come under the spotlight since Trump's move runs counter to his earlier position of forging friendly ties with Kremlin.

From a closer look, Trump's decision to sign the bill - albeit reluctantly - shows that he has given into the domestic pressures building on Capitol Hill amid intensified investigations into his campaign ties with Russia. 

By signing the bill, Trump might be hoping to ward off some of the accusations against him, including ones that he put the U.S.'s interests at stake with his pro-Russia stance.

Notably, the president criticized the legislation for being "significantly flawed." Kremlin responded with counter measures, ordering the U.S. to remove approximately 60 percent of its diplomatic staff in Russia and announcing the seizure of two U.S. diplomatic properties. Interestingly, the announcement came before Trump signed the bill, which could be perceived as a response addressing Congress, not the president.

Nevertheless, the new sanctions will surely cast a shadow on U.S.-Russian relations despite Trump's efforts to improve relations with Moscow. "The hope that our relations with the new American...