The United States and Russia have had a long and complicated relationship, but in recent years, tensions have been escalating. The two countries have been locked in a cycle of sanctions and counter-sanctions, with each side taking increasingly aggressive measures against the other.
The most recent round of sanctions began in 2014, when the US imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its annexation of Crimea and its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Since then, the US has imposed additional sanctions in response to Russia’s interference in the 2016 US presidential election, its support for the Syrian government, and its alleged involvement in the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK.
In response, Russia has imposed its own sanctions on the US, including restrictions on imports of US agricultural products, restrictions on US diplomatic personnel, and a ban on US citizens adopting Russian children.
The sanctions have had a significant impact on the US-Russia relationship. Trade between the two countries has plummeted, and diplomatic ties have been strained. The US has also accused Russia of engaging in cyber-attacks against US targets, and the two countries have clashed over issues such as the conflict in Syria and the situation in Ukraine.
The US and Russia have also clashed over the issue of nuclear arms control. The US has accused Russia of violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and the two countries have failed to reach an agreement on extending the New START treaty, which limits the number of nuclear warheads each side can possess.
The US-Russia relationship is at its lowest point in decades, and it is unlikely to improve anytime soon. The US has made it clear that it will continue to impose sanctions on Russia until it changes its behavior, and Russia has shown no signs of backing down. As long as the two countries remain at odds, the US-Russia relationship is likely to remain strained.
