LONDON, February 17. /TASS/. If US President Donald Trump lifts sanctions against Russia, it could put Washington's allies in Europe in a difficult position, said Pierre Briancon, a Reuters news agency observer.

As a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin looms, "the question is whether Trump might" soften or lift altogether the measures imposed by Washington and its Western allies.

He said that the decision would "add to Europe’s strategic problems," as the US and its European partners have largely maintained a unified approach to sanctions over the past three years.

Briancon believes that Trump could lift US sanctions unilaterally either in the wake of a truce, or to pressure Ukraine and its European backers if they are reluctant to agree on the offered deal.

In this case the US and Russia would be free to resume business, while European companies would lobby their governments to follow suit. Should Washington abandon sanctions, maintaining them would become increasingly difficult for the EU, which would risk standing alone against a key geopolitical adversary.

On preparation of summit

The organization of a potential meeting between Putin and Trump was one of the topics discussed during a February 12 phone call between the two leaders. Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to meet with Putin. He mentioned this during his 2024 election campaign and again after his inauguration on January 20. Following a conversation with the Russian president, the American leader proposed Riyadh as a potential location for the meeting. The most recent face-to-face meeting between Putin and Trump took place at the 2019 G20 summit in Osaka.

CNN reported that the US delegation at the Saudi summit will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has already arrived in the kingdom, along with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and White House Middle East envoy Stephen Witkoff.