Trump considering new Russia sanctions as EU intensifies

U.S. sanctions on Russia will remain as is, U.S.
President Donald Trump confirmed at a July 30 press conference with Italian Prime
Minister Giuseppe Conte, as reported by CNN Politics on Twitter. Trump is
currently considering signing a bill approved by the U.S. Congress that
intensifies sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea, the pravda.com.ua
news site reported the same day. The European Commission has expressed concerns
about the bill, requesting that it avoid damaging the European energy market
and companies.

The EU imposed on July 30 a new round of sanctions
against six Russian companies that participated in the construction of the
Crimean bridge, according to its decision published in its official journal.
The bridge’s construction and official opening in May “were key symbolic steps
in Russia consolidating its control over illegally annexed Crimea and
Sevastopol and the peninsula’s further isolation from Ukraine.”

Zenon Zawada: We see Trump
pursuing a foreign policy with Russia that seeks compromise on critical issues
such as Ukraine and Iran, while at the same time maintaining and possibly
intensifying pressure. Therefore, we expect Trump will continue to support
sanctions against Russia for at least the remainder of his term. We expect the
U.S. Congress will gradually intensify sanctions against Russia for at least
the next four years.

We expect the EU will intensify sanctions against
Russia only when they won’t affect the performance large corporations,
particularly energy companies, which have large political lobbies. Overall, we
also expect U.S. foreign policy against Russia will continue to remain consistently
tougher than the policy of the European Union, especially with the recent
emergence of a Russia-friendly government in Italy.