This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38773608

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Sanctions on table ahead of US-Putin call Trump: 'No guarantee' on Russia relations
(about 1 hour later)
President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will speak by telephone on Saturday, according to the White House and the Kremlin. President Donald Trump has said he wants a "great relationship" with Russia, but would not say if he would lift US sanctions against the country.
The two world leaders are expected to discuss bilateral affairs and national security in the first call since Mr Trump's inauguration. Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak on Saturday, according to the White House and Kremlin.
Mr Trump has also hinted at lifting some of the US sanctions on Russia. They are expected to discuss bilateral affairs and national security in the first call since the inauguration.
But Republicans have expressed opposition to any softer White House line against Moscow. But Mr Trump said it was "very early" to talk about the sanctions imposed on the country by his predecessor.
Senator John McCain, who says Mr Putin is a thug, said that would be a "reckless course" and he would pursue legislation to enforce the sanctions. He was asked about his plans in a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on her visit to Washington - the first national leader to be welcomed by the president.
Mr Trump will also speak to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on Saturday. "We will see what happens," said Mr Trump. "We look to have a great relationship with all countries, ideally. That won't necessarily happen, unfortunately, [and it] probably won't happen with many countries.
Also on Friday, at the end of Mr Trump's first week in power, he: "But if we could have [a relationship] as we do with Prime Minister May… if we can have a great relationship with Russia and with China and with all countries, I am all for that.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the phone call between Mr Trump and Mr Putin, but said it was unlikely to result in any specific agreements. "That would be a tremendous asset. No guarantees, but if we can, that would be a positive, not a negative."
But Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News on Friday that removing US sanctions on Russia was "under consideration". Mrs May said the UK had been "very clear" that sanctions should remain in place until the Minsk agreement, stopping the war between Russia and Ukraine, had been fully implemented.
"I assume they will discuss, in the interests of their respective countries, how to come together and work together on issues where you can find common ground and where these two nations could maybe defeat radical Islamic terrorism," she also told CBS News. Republicans have expressed opposition to any softer White House line against Moscow.
The president has vowed to strengthen relations with the Kremlin despite allegations from the US intelligence community that Russia tried to interfere in the US president election to benefit Mr Trump. Senator John McCain - a vocal critic of Mr Putin, who has called him a "thug" - said that would be a "reckless course" and he would pursue legislation to enforce the sanctions.
As a result, President Barack Obama issued a new round of sanctions against Russia and expelled 35 Russian diplomats for Moscow's alleged election-related cyber attacks.
Can Mr Trump undo Russian sanctions? - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News North America ReporterCan Mr Trump undo Russian sanctions? - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News North America Reporter
Donald Trump's planned phone conversation with President Vladimir Putin could lay the groundwork for a rollback of US sanctions on Russia.Donald Trump's planned phone conversation with President Vladimir Putin could lay the groundwork for a rollback of US sanctions on Russia.
There are reports that a presidential order undoing Barack Obama's executive actions has already been drafted.There are reports that a presidential order undoing Barack Obama's executive actions has already been drafted.
If this ends up being the case, it would likely ignite a battle between the administration and a bipartisan coalition in Congress.If this ends up being the case, it would likely ignite a battle between the administration and a bipartisan coalition in Congress.
While Republican Capitol Hill leadership may be loath to pick a fight with Mr Trump so early in his presidency, anti-Russia hawks in the Senate - led by Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham - may find common cause with the body's Democratic minority.While Republican Capitol Hill leadership may be loath to pick a fight with Mr Trump so early in his presidency, anti-Russia hawks in the Senate - led by Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham - may find common cause with the body's Democratic minority.
Together they could push legislation that enshrine the administration-imposed sanctions into law, much the way Congress solidified Bush-era anti-Iran measures during Mr Obama's presidency.Together they could push legislation that enshrine the administration-imposed sanctions into law, much the way Congress solidified Bush-era anti-Iran measures during Mr Obama's presidency.
Mr Trump has been bedevilled by criticisms that he has too close a relationship with Mr Putin, inflamed by intelligence reports of Russian meddling in the US election and an ongoing investigation into ties between Russia and former Trump campaign aides.Mr Trump has been bedevilled by criticisms that he has too close a relationship with Mr Putin, inflamed by intelligence reports of Russian meddling in the US election and an ongoing investigation into ties between Russia and former Trump campaign aides.
While the new president may see sanction-removal as the first step in forging closer ties with a former adversary, the move could come with at a high political price.While the new president may see sanction-removal as the first step in forging closer ties with a former adversary, the move could come with at a high political price.
The Kremlin has vehemently denied any allegations that it coordinated hacks on the US election. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the phone call between Mr Trump and Mr Putin, but said it was unlikely to result in any specific agreements.
Earlier this month, Mr Trump suggested he would ease sanctions on Moscow imposed by the Obama administration if the nation helped in the battle against terrorism. But Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News on Friday that removing US sanctions on Russia was "under consideration".
"I assume they will discuss, in the interests of their respective countries, how to come together and work together on issues where you can find common ground and where these two nations could maybe defeat radical Islamic terrorism," she also told CBS News.
The president has vowed to strengthen relations with the Kremlin despite allegations from the US intelligence community that Russia tried to interfere in the US president election to benefit Mr Trump.
As a result, President Barack Obama issued a new round of sanctions against Russia and expelled 35 Russian diplomats for Moscow's alleged election-related cyber attacks.
The Kremlin has vehemently denied any allegations that it co-ordinated hacks during the US election.
Earlier this month, Mr Trump suggested he would ease sanctions on Moscow imposed by the Obama administration if Russia helped in the battle against terrorism.
Mr Trump will also speak to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on Saturday.
Also on Friday, at the end of Mr Trump's first week in power, he:
US and European Union (EU) sanctions were already in place after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and last month, the EU extended them.US and European Union (EU) sanctions were already in place after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and last month, the EU extended them.