title: Proposed new U.S. sanctions ruse to force Russia from EU energy market: TASS cites Putin ally
text: MOSCOW (Reuters) - Proposed new U.S. sanctions against Russia look like an attempt to squeeze Moscow out of the European energy market, Valentina Matviyenko, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin said on Monday, the TASS news agency reported.  Matviyenko is speaker of the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament. She was speaking after the White House said on Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump was open to signing new legislation after Senate and House leaders reached agreement on a sanctions bill late last week. 