White House Denies Easing Sanctions On Russia

The Treasury Department is not easing sanctions on Russia, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Thursday. The Treasury Department released a document showing some information technology products and services can now be sold to Russia's intelligence agency. But at the daily White House briefing, Spicer said there was a misunderstanding. "We are not easing sanctions," he said. "From what I understand, it is a regular course of action that Treasury does quite often when there are sanctions imposed," he said. Treasury often goes back and makes carveouts for certain products and services, he said. The Russian ruble rallied on the announcement.