Do Republicans change their attitude towards Russia?

As US President Donald Tramp prepares for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, legislators from the Republican Tramp Party provide various information about their recent visit to Moscow. While a US senator called on the United States to suspend sanctions against Russia, the latter compared talks in Moscow with contacts with the mafia. The voice of America has dealt with what appears to be a change of attitude among many lawmakers of the RS who have traditionally adopted a very strong attitude towards Russia as a & # 39; s. Enemy of the United States

. the NATO summit in Brussels, then a direct meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, he asked the simple question: is Putin a friend or an enemy?

"I really can not say it now. As far as I am concerned, a competitor, " answered by Tramp.

The president's statement is similar to the words used by Republican Senator Richard Shelby last week in Russia, saying that his group raised a number of controversial issues in conversation with their hosts.

"But we also told them that even though our relationships were tense, it would always be better for the world, for us, to be competitors, rather than enemies. However, we will have to wait and see what will happen. "

Other Republican Senators, among whom Jerry Moran, point out that they have just raised the issue of Russian interference in the election 2016.

"Our message to the Russians was:" We believe that you mix our electoral process and do not do it in 2018 and 2020. If you want this relationship to improve, you have to show us that our choices are out of range of your mix. "

However, some analysts say that there are signs the attitude of Republicans is becoming more and more support for the president and more pro-Russian, a change in attitude that the party has been advocating for decades.

Mark Simakovski Atlantic Council says:

"As a result, the unified bilateral viewpoint that Congress until now defended could change – a firm stance against Russia if we do not see changes in the behavior of Moscow "

Other experts, including Luke Kofi of the Conservative Heritage Foundation, do not agree, but they point out that US policy and sanctions introduced by Congress are stricter than Tramp's rhetoric

. The American Congress, largely in a bilateral spirit, remains very skeptical about any kind of rapprochement with Russia.

President Tramp, however, told reporters that his meeting with Putin in Helsinki might be easier than his meeting with US allies in Brussels and the United Kingdom.