(Krzysztof Zatycki/Associated Press)MOSCOW — The Kremlin hopes that Donald Trump will move to improve badly strained Russia-U.S. ties once he takes office. The hacking issue is likely to weigh over Trump and could overshadow any possible attempt by his administration to improve ties with Moscow. It would be difficult for the Trump administration to push for the sanctions’ removal while clashes in eastern Ukraine are continuing. The treaty doesn’t prevent either side from modernizing their arsenals, which Russia is already doing and Trump has vowed to do. Putin has described the program as an attempt to erode Russia’s nuclear deterrent, dismissing U.S. claims the shield is intended to fend off a potential missile threat from Iran.

Source: Washington Post January 15, 2017 15:08 UTC