The White House said President-elect Donald Trump would need congressional approval to lift existing sanctions on Russia, underscoring the difficulty of overhauling the sanctions that were put in place by the Biden administration and have the support of lawmakers in both parties.

A White House official noted that sanctions on Russia are governed not only by executive orders, but also by laws such as the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). These laws stipulate that any changes to sanctions policy must be approved by Congress. So even if Trump wants to initiate a lifting of sanctions, he will need to secure support from lawmakers.

Trump, for his part, has repeatedly spoken about the need to review relations with Russia. During his election campaign, he emphasized that he wanted to bring the United States and Russia back to the negotiating table, reduce tensions in relations, and consider lifting some restrictions. However, his rhetoric has already drawn criticism from opponents who consider such steps premature and question their validity.

In Congress, sentiment on sanctions against Russia remains divided. While Republicans who support Trump may be open to discussing easing the measures, a significant number of lawmakers, including members of his own party, oppose such changes. Democrats, on the other hand, tend to take a hard line on Moscow, viewing sanctions as an important deterrent.