Washington: Republican and Democratic US senators have introduced legislation to impose stiff new sanctions on Russia and combat cyber crime, the latest effort by lawmakers to punish Moscow over interference in US elections and its activities in Syria and Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he wanted Donald Trump to win the election. Credit:AP

The bill includes restrictions on new Russian sovereign debt transactions, energy and oil projects and Russian uranium imports, and new sanctions on Russian political figures and oligarchs.

It also expresses strong support for NATO and would require that two-thirds of the Senate to vote in favour of any effort to leave the alliance.

Russian markets reacted quickly to the measure, with the rouble slumping toward two-week lows.