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The Russian Connection

Just over a year ago, most commentators believed that Donald Trump's presidency would mark an easing of strained relations between the US and Russia. Trump's rhetoric throughout his campaign bolstered this assumption: “I would love to be able to get along with Russia. Now, you've had a lot of presidents that haven't taken that tack. Look where we are now. Look where we are now. So, if I can - now, I love to negotiate things, I do it really well, and all that stuff.” We explore how relations with Russia have since changed.
Russian officials’ outlooks on relations with the US remain pessimistic
No major deals have been cut between the two powers since Trump entered the Oval Office. Rather, relations have become further strained. When asked about the Kremlin’s biggest disappointments of 2017, Russian Presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, noted that worsening relations with the US were “certainly” on the list. Indeed, the Trump administration has continued pursuing the previous Obama administration’s approach to Russia. At various points in 2017, senior officials criticised Russian actions in Ukraine and Syria. The US also bombed an airbase in Syria used by Syrian and Russian militaries in April 2017 in response to evidence that President Bashar Al Assad used chemical weapons against a rebel-held town. Most recently, the US agreed in December 2017 to provide “lethal weapons” to Ukrainian authorities to help fight Russian-backed separatists in Eastern Ukraine. 
Perhaps most significantly, Trump approved new sanctions against Russia in August 2017 after Congress sent him a bill with strong bipartisan backing.

Perhaps most significantly, Trump approved new sanctions against Russia in August 2017 after Congress sent him a bill with strong bipartisan backing. The sanctions were passed after several US agencies confirmed “with a high degree of confidence” that Russia interfered in the 2016 US election through hacking and disseminating fake news. In retaliation to the sanctions, President Vladimir Putin ordered the US to cut its diplomatic staff in Russia by 755. Russian officials’ outlooks on relations with the US remain pessimistic, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reportedly stating Washington could resort to new “destructive impulses” ahead of Russia’s presidential election in March 2018. This suggests that Russia expects some form of retaliatory election meddling by the US amid concerns of Russian interference in the US November 2018 mid-term elections. 

Whether Trump’s administration colluded with Russian agents to undercut Hillary Clinton’s election campaign has been a focal point of Trump’s first year in office. Facing investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, Trump has denied collusion with Russia. While it remains unclear whether the investigation will yield concrete evidence against Trump specifically, two members of his campaign team have already been indicted. The investigation is likely to continue to be a source of contention in US politics in 2018, and is expected to cast a greater pall over US-Russia relations.

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