Cohn: US ‘probably looking to get tougher’ on Russia

President Trump might be more likely to toughen sanctions on Russia than ease them, National Economic Council Director Gary said Friday.

“[The White House] is not lowering our sanctions on Russia. If anything, we are probably looking to get tougher on Russia.,” Cohn said, according to ABC News.

Cohn on Thursday said Trump was weighing changes to U.S. sanctions against Russia.

{mosads}“I think the president is looking at it. Right now, we don’t have a position,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked about Trump’s stance on the issue.

Cohn said Russian sanctions came up during Trump’s Thursday meeting with NATO leaders in Brussels.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) on Thursday said his panel might impose tougher sanctions against Russia as soon as this summer, depending on whether Secretary of State Rex Tillerson can show improved U.S.-Russia ties over Syria.

“I’ve committed to mark up Russia sanctions legislation in the event, the probable event, that the secretary of State cannot show us that there’s a change of trajectory,” he said.

Thursday’s remarks are a shift for Corker, who had previously advised against new Russia penalties.

Corker said earlier this month that the committee would not consider sanctions legislation for the foreseeable future, arguing it would fray U.S.-Russia ties.

The U.S. and Russia have long clashed over the Kremlin’s support for Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Former President Obama imposed new sanctions on Moscow in December amid revelations that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential race.

Obama also expelled dozens of Russian agents from the U.S. before leaving office in January.