US Authorities Probe Trump’s Adviser for Talks About Lifting Russia Sanctions

US intelligence officials are investigating potential ties between an adviser of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and senior Russian officials, local media reported on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The authorities are probing reports that Trump’s foreign policy adviser Carter Page is engaged in private talks with Russian officials, particularly on possible lifting of sanctions against Moscow, Yahoo News reported citing sources familiar with the issue.

The sanctions, imposed by Washington over Russia’s alleged involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, could be lifted, if Trump wins the race for the White House, according to the report.

Trump has repeatedly said that he expects to maintain good relations with Russia and President Vladimir Putin if elected to become the next US president.

On September 7, the Republican nominee argued that Putin was a better leader than US President Barack Obama.

Relations between Russia and the West soured in 2014 after the overwhelming majority of the Crimean population voted in a referendum to leave Ukraine and rejoin Russia.

The United States, the European Union do not recognize the results of the referendum and imposed several rounds of sanctions on both Russia and Crimea.