MOSCOW, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia does not anticipate a shift in the incoming U.S. administration's stance on sanctions policy, despite Washington's expressed openness for dialogue, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
On Thursday, Scott Bessent, Donald Trump's nominee for the Secretary of the Treasury, reportedly said that he would fully support leveling up sanctions on Russia to bring Moscow to the negotiating table.
"It would be unusual if the future U.S. treasury secretary did not back his president's decision. Such a scenario is unlikely. If he were to oppose it, he would likely resign," Peskov said at a news briefing.
Russia does not have an unrealistic illusion on the new U.S. administration to change its position on sanctions policy even if it declared a political will for dialogue, he added. ■