washington u.s. defense secretary jim mattis say monday indication russia want positive relationship unite state say choose strategic competitor time ... see indication mr. putin would want positive relationship us say get look common grind mattis tell house arm service committee hear refer russian president vladimir putin point choose competitive strategic competitor us deal see say joseph dunford chairman u.s. joint chiefs staff add unite state adversarial relationship russia russia unite state number diverge interest include syria russia say saturday tell unite state unacceptable washington strike pro-government force syria u.s. military carry air strike pro-syrian government militia u.s. senators say monday close agreement legislation impose new sanction russia include possible provision would prevent white house ease sanction without congressional approval democrats republicans foreign relations bank committees negotiate week amendment iran sanction bill also would impose sanction punish russia issue include allege meddle 2016 u.s. election annexation ukraine crimea region support government syria country six-year-long civil war indication russia want positive relationship u.s. mattis