Russian Upper House Speaker Hopes for Easing of EU Sanctions Amid Trump Election

There is a chance for easing of European sanctions if the United States does not pressure the European Union after Donald Trump's presidential election victory, Russian upper house speaker Valentina Matvienko said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Republican nominee Trump won the US presidency in Tuesday’s election, having gained 290 Electoral College votes, 19 more than the 270 needed to win.

"I would like to hope that unlike the outgoing [US] administration, which was pressuring the European Union and compelling them to hold the sanctions, the new administration, free from previous decisions, will not render such a powerful pressure upon the European Union," Matvienko said on Rossiya 24 television channel.