MILAN, July 1 (Reuters) - UniCredit said on Monday it is challenging whether the European Central Bank can force the Italian bank to cut its exposure to Russia and is seeking a ruling from the European Union's General Court.

UniCredit, which has one of the biggest businesses in Russia among European lenders, has asked the EU General Court to clarify whether the ECB is within its legal framework in setting obligations for the lender to exit Russia, the company said in a statement.

The ECB

in recent weeks

wrote to European lenders with exposure to Russia demanding a

"clear roadmap"

to exit the Russian market. Austria's Raiffeisen is Europe's bank with the biggest Russia exposure, followed by UniCredit.

UniCredit said in the statement that efforts it had made so far to reduce its exposure showed it was "fully aligned with ECB on the importance of reducing its presence in Russia."

However, UniCredit has "concerns about the terms upon which this reduction has to take place as provided for in the decision issued by ECB, that goes beyond the current legal framework," it added.

European banks still active in Russia have also been facing pressure from the United States. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters in May that the lenders faced growing risks and Washington was looking at strengthening its secondary sanctions on banks found to be aiding transactions for Russia's war effort.

"While this application is being heard, UniCredit has requested an interim suspension of the [ECB's] decision pending the proceeding," UniCredit said. (Reporting by Valentina Za; Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi)