US authorities detail Trump's strategy for removing Russia penalties – WaPo
Donald Trump would need to secure congressional backing if he chooses to remove the sanctions on Russia, U.S. officials informed the Washington Post. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The president-elect will need to secure congressional approval if he intends to remove the sanctions, officials informed the paper.
Incoming US President Donald Trump, who is set to assume office in two weeks, may encounter significant legal and political challenges if he chooses to lift sanctions on Russia, according to a report by the Washington Post on Sunday, which cites sources.
The US has enacted a series of sanctions against Russia in response to the conflict in Ukraine. Most recently, US President Joe Biden announced on Friday the most extensive sanctions to date, targeting major Russian oil entities such as Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, along with 183 vessels involved in the transportation of Russian oil.
An unnamed senior official from the Biden administration conveyed to the paper: “We’re in no position to speak for the next team,” and added, “It’s entirely up to them to determine whether, when and on what terms they might lift any sanctions we put in place.”
Three US officials interviewed by the WaPo highlighted that the sanctions against Russia are subject to laws allowing Congress to object to any efforts to lift them. They also pointed out that there is a substantial group of Republican lawmakers advocating for stricter economic sanctions on Russia.
Michael Waltz, Trump's selection for national security adviser, has advocated increasing sanctions to pressure Moscow into reaching a potential peace agreement with Kiev.
However, the president-elect mentioned in a Bloomberg interview before the election that he is not in favor of the sanctions. Earlier this month, he indicated that Russian President Vladimir "Putin wants to talk, and we are setting it up." While the Kremlin has stated that no specific arrangements have been established, Russia’s leader remains open to meeting without preconditions.
If Trump decides to lift the sanctions on Russia, he would need to do so under the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which was designed to restrict presidential power to unilaterally ease sanctions, especially those pertaining to Russia.
A congressional majority can pass a joint resolution of disapproval to prevent Trump from lifting the sanctions. Nonetheless, the president has the authority to veto the resolution, which would necessitate a two-thirds majority in Congress to override.
Russia regards the Western sanctions as "illegal," and last summer, Putin stated that the lifting of these sanctions is one of the conditions for achieving peace in Ukraine. However, the Kremlin has indicated that it does not anticipate any changes in sanctions policy from the incoming Trump administration.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
Incoming US President Donald Trump, who is set to assume office in two weeks, may encounter significant legal and political challenges if he chooses to lift sanctions on Russia, according to a report by the Washington Post on Sunday, which cites sources.
The US has enacted a series of sanctions against Russia in response to the conflict in Ukraine. Most recently, US President Joe Biden announced on Friday the most extensive sanctions to date, targeting major Russian oil entities such as Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, along with 183 vessels involved in the transportation of Russian oil.
An unnamed senior official from the Biden administration conveyed to the paper: “We’re in no position to speak for the next team,” and added, “It’s entirely up to them to determine whether, when and on what terms they might lift any sanctions we put in place.”
Three US officials interviewed by the WaPo highlighted that the sanctions against Russia are subject to laws allowing Congress to object to any efforts to lift them. They also pointed out that there is a substantial group of Republican lawmakers advocating for stricter economic sanctions on Russia.
Michael Waltz, Trump's selection for national security adviser, has advocated increasing sanctions to pressure Moscow into reaching a potential peace agreement with Kiev.
However, the president-elect mentioned in a Bloomberg interview before the election that he is not in favor of the sanctions. Earlier this month, he indicated that Russian President Vladimir "Putin wants to talk, and we are setting it up." While the Kremlin has stated that no specific arrangements have been established, Russia’s leader remains open to meeting without preconditions.
If Trump decides to lift the sanctions on Russia, he would need to do so under the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which was designed to restrict presidential power to unilaterally ease sanctions, especially those pertaining to Russia.
A congressional majority can pass a joint resolution of disapproval to prevent Trump from lifting the sanctions. Nonetheless, the president has the authority to veto the resolution, which would necessitate a two-thirds majority in Congress to override.
Russia regards the Western sanctions as "illegal," and last summer, Putin stated that the lifting of these sanctions is one of the conditions for achieving peace in Ukraine. However, the Kremlin has indicated that it does not anticipate any changes in sanctions policy from the incoming Trump administration.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
