A political scientist predicted a split in the collective West after Trump's arrival

After Donald Trump assumes the office of the US President, the collective West will cease to be so. Thus, the American leader's team will go for the restoration of dialog with Moscow, while European politicians will maintain their anti-Russian course. Pavel Feldman, candidate of political sciences, professor at the Academy of Labor and Social Relations, shared such a forecast with Izvestia on January 10.

Earlier in the day, the British newspaper Financial Times, citing sources, reported that European Union (EU) officials are worried that Trump, after taking office, may lift anti-Russian sanctions imposed by current US President Joe Biden.

"Under Trump, the West will cease to be collective. A split awaits it. The new U.S. administration pays lip service to the desire to restore dialog with Moscow. Such a dialog can be conducted by Russian and US leaders directly without the involvement of Brussels officials or NATO bureaucracy," Feldman said.

Most likely, he added, Trump's relations with liberal European politicians will be as strained as they were during his first term. The US and the EU will cease to exist as a single pole of world politics, and serious ideological and economic contradictions will arise between them, the interlocutor of the publication admits.

"Europe is likely to remain faithful to its anti-Russian course, waiting for the Democrats to return to the White House. But Trump's team may partially soften sanctions measures against Moscow or weaken control over compliance with the restrictions imposed under Biden," the expert said.

At the same time, he said that Trump will certainly try to prevent the return of Russian oil and gas producers to the European energy market. In the field of hydrocarbon trade, he will act even more harshly than his predecessor, the political scientist concluded.

Enemy of my enemy: who Trump supports in Europe

The U.S. president-elect continues to rally allies on the continent

Earlier, on January 9, Reuters, citing an unnamed official, reported that Biden may announce a new package of anti-Russian sanctions this week. The journalists did not give details, but noted that the new list of restrictions is needed ostensibly to strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position.

At the same time, also on Thursday, Trump said he was preparing a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He noted that he plans to hold all meetings after the inauguration ceremony on January 20.

The New York Times, in turn, on December 11, reported that Trump may unblock Moscow's frozen assets and lift anti-Russian sanctions, which includes changing the terms of the loan to Kiev, allocated by Washington under Biden. Before that, on January 7, Trump called President Joe Biden's "fiasco" the cause of the conflict in Ukraine.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.