Kremlin hopes U.S. election shake-up won't shift Trump's negotiations on Ukraine

Subscribed with another email? Peskov shrugged off a question from reporters on whether the new Congress would challenge Mr. Trump also issued an executive order to put on hold sweeping new sanctions that clamped down on the Russian economy, telling Congress the pause was in the national interest. Trump would be less inclined to press Ukraine when a new Congress is seated. Gallyamov wrote in a commentary. “He thought that the time was on his side and wasn't in a hurry to use the window of opportunity that had opened after Trump's victory, and now this window is starting to close.” Some policy experts, however, cautioned against expectations of a dramatic shift. Trump over the diesel deal or Russia sanctions waivers, but hard limits on the President's power are unlikely, said Jorn Fleck, senior director of the Atlantic Council's Europe Center. “Even with a strong majority in both chambers of Congress, Democrats will struggle to impose meaningful limits on Trump's conduct of foreign policy, given his constitutional powers and willingness to push the envelope,” Mr. Trump's executive powers in the foreign policy sphere would allow him to pursue his course regardless of congressional opposition. Kosachev said. “Rather, they will face a more resolute one, who is no longer looking over his shoulder at upcoming elections.” For all the importance of Congress, "the U.S. President's role in foreign policy remains paramount — a fact Trump understands better than anyone else,” he said. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna struck a similar tone in an interview on Thursday (November 5) with The Associated Press , saying "the President is President Trump,” and he has the ability to dictate foreign and security policy. “Unpredictability” should be expected, he added.