OREANDA-NEWS. January 30, 2017.  President Donald Trump's administration will prioritize cooperation against militant groups over other considerations as it weighs the future of US sanctions on Russia, a senior White House aide said today.

Removing the sanctions is among the issues Trump may raise during his scheduled phone conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin tomorrow, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said in a Fox News television interview. "If another nation with considerable resources wishes to join the US in eradicating radical Islamist terrorism, we are listening," Conway said.

Sanctions imposed by former president Barack Obama's administration in 2014 prohibit the sale or transfer of shale, deepwater and arctic drilling equipment and technology to Russian oil companies. The US also bars loans to Russia's state-controlled Rosneft and other state-run firms. Obama imposed the sanctions to protest Russia's annexation of Crimea and to force Moscow's cooperation with an international agreement on halting hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

Trump today downplayed the prospect of an immediate removal of sanctions on Russia, saying it was "very early to be talking about that." He said he would work to establish a "great relationship" with Russia and Putin but cannot guarantee the outcome. "If we go after Isis together, I will consider it a good thing."

Trump's secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson at his Senate confirmation hearing told senators that keeping the sanctions in place would be an incentive for Russia to change its behavior in Ukraine and eastern Europe, Tillerson said. The Senate is scheduled to debate Tillerson's nomination next week, with a floor vote expected on 1 February.

But Conway suggested cooperation against Isis and other militant groups will be the key consideration. "The president said it is America first, and that includes the national security and foreign policy." Trump would prefer to raise other concerns in private discussions, she said.

Trump's pledge to improve US relations with Russia faces strong opposition in Congress. A bipartisan group of US senators have already introduced a bill imposing additional sanctions on Russia's oil and natural gas sector, in addition to codifying existing penalties imposed by Obama.

"I hope President Trump will put an end to speculation [about unilateral lifting of sanctions] and reject such a reckless course. If he does not, I will work with my colleagues to codify sanctions against Russia into law," Senate Armed Services Committee chairman John McCain said today.

Trump is looking to reset relations with Moscow "because he is a great dealmaker," the White House said. "If a deal can be found working with another country to protect our national security interests or economic interests, he is going to make a deal."

Putin last fall outlined his own starting negotiating position to reset relations with Washington, which includes demands to roll back sanctions imposed over Ukraine, offer compensation for the effect of such sanctions and reduce US military forces in eastern Europe.

Trump's defense secretary James Mattis said the Pentagon will increase US military presence in eastern Europe to confront Russia.