Former US Officials Seek Improved Russia Ties
Some of the biggest names in U.S. foreign policy of the past decades met with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev Friday, in an effort to improve frosty relations that experts say could threaten many U.S. foreign policy goals.
In some of his most upbeat comments about U.S. relations since U.S. President Barack Obama took office, Medvedev said his meetings with current and former U.S. officials in recent weeks "reflect the goal of our nations to significantly improve ties."
After greeting a delegation led by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Medvedev praised the U.S. initiative, first announced by Vice President Joe Biden, to "press the reset button" on U.S.-Russia relations.
"The surprising term 'reset' … really reflects the essence of the changes we would like to see," Medvedev said. "We count on the reset. I hope it will take place."
Kissinger, an architect of U.S. Cold War strategy toward the Soviet Union, said he and a group including former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and former Senator Sam Nunn had discussed energy and other "strategic issues" with the Russian president.
"I'm happy to report that the differences were not so substantial and the agreements were great," Kissinger said.
Kissinger also told Medvedev the U.S. group hoped the Russian leader's April meeting with Obama on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in London would help improve ties.
"We believe in the generally expectant attitude, and we hope … that the meeting between you and our president will begin a new era in our above and will lead to concrete results," Kissinger said.
There was no immediate report on the meeting with Putin.
Experts say chilly U.S.-Russia relations have compound efforts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, ease tensions in eastern Europe and expand the war in Afghanistan.
Kissinger's group has pushed for drastic reductions in global nuclear arsenals, and reviving talks on limits to nuclear arms, specially the START I treaty, which expires in December, is at the top of the U.S. agenda.
But the broader aim appears to be to repair the damage to relations between Washington and Moscow, which one expert said were at their lowest point since the early 1980s.
"We are certain that the low point of this period of chill in our relations is behind us," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters Friday. "The reset … has really begun."
While the Kremlin has welcomed the U.S. initiatives, it has also sent signals that it is up to Washington to make concessions, not Moscow, if relations are to improve.
Ryabakov on Friday indicated Russia would not soften its contrast to U.S. plans for a missile defense system in eastern Europe. And he said Moscow sees no signs that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, suggesting the Kremlin will not back efforts to tighten sanctions against Tehran in the UN Security Council.
It is not clear if Russia is adopted a tough position to give itself room to bargain in talks with the U.S., or whether it will refuse to make any concessions in any upcoming negotiations.
Either way, experts say, Russia is key to many of the Obama administration's most important foreign policy goals.
"Moscow can be very helpful as a partner, and Moscow can be very unhelpful if it chooses to be a spoiler," said Dmitry Simes, a member of the Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia and director of the Nixon Center think tank in Washington.
In some of his most upbeat comments about U.S. relations since U.S. President Barack Obama took office, Medvedev said his meetings with current and former U.S. officials in recent weeks "reflect the goal of our nations to significantly improve ties."
After greeting a delegation led by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Medvedev praised the U.S. initiative, first announced by Vice President Joe Biden, to "press the reset button" on U.S.-Russia relations.
"The surprising term 'reset' … really reflects the essence of the changes we would like to see," Medvedev said. "We count on the reset. I hope it will take place."
Kissinger, an architect of U.S. Cold War strategy toward the Soviet Union, said he and a group including former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and former Senator Sam Nunn had discussed energy and other "strategic issues" with the Russian president.
"I'm happy to report that the differences were not so substantial and the agreements were great," Kissinger said.
Kissinger also told Medvedev the U.S. group hoped the Russian leader's April meeting with Obama on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in London would help improve ties.
"We believe in the generally expectant attitude, and we hope … that the meeting between you and our president will begin a new era in our above and will lead to concrete results," Kissinger said.
There was no immediate report on the meeting with Putin.
Experts say chilly U.S.-Russia relations have compound efforts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, ease tensions in eastern Europe and expand the war in Afghanistan.
Kissinger's group has pushed for drastic reductions in global nuclear arsenals, and reviving talks on limits to nuclear arms, specially the START I treaty, which expires in December, is at the top of the U.S. agenda.
But the broader aim appears to be to repair the damage to relations between Washington and Moscow, which one expert said were at their lowest point since the early 1980s.
"We are certain that the low point of this period of chill in our relations is behind us," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters Friday. "The reset … has really begun."
While the Kremlin has welcomed the U.S. initiatives, it has also sent signals that it is up to Washington to make concessions, not Moscow, if relations are to improve.
Ryabakov on Friday indicated Russia would not soften its contrast to U.S. plans for a missile defense system in eastern Europe. And he said Moscow sees no signs that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, suggesting the Kremlin will not back efforts to tighten sanctions against Tehran in the UN Security Council.
It is not clear if Russia is adopted a tough position to give itself room to bargain in talks with the U.S., or whether it will refuse to make any concessions in any upcoming negotiations.
Either way, experts say, Russia is key to many of the Obama administration's most important foreign policy goals.
"Moscow can be very helpful as a partner, and Moscow can be very unhelpful if it chooses to be a spoiler," said Dmitry Simes, a member of the Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia and director of the Nixon Center think tank in Washington.
