Washington (AFP) Trump’s signing of a new sanctions bill to increase pressure on Russia, Washington’s attempt to speed up diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict despite the focus on the Iran war. US President Donald Trump has signed a bill authorizing new sanctions to increase pressure on Russia over the war in Ukraine after months of delay by Congress. Washington has been trying to reactivate a negotiated path to an end to the conflict as Moscow has stepped up attacks on Ukraine, though much of its attention and ammunition has been focused on the ongoing war against Iran. The legislation, passed by US lawmakers this week and signed into law by President Trump on Friday, targets Russia’s energy and defense sectors, as well as President Vladimir Putin and other top officials. The law also targets oil tankers in Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet, which are used to evade Western sanctions.