Carnegie Moscow Center
Russia’s intransigence in the face of intense international pressure to halt the violence in Syria is confusing to much of the world, but there are real Russian financial and strategic interests at stake over Syria.
Restoration of a Congress-Duma track can send a clear message to Moscow that further improvements in the bilateral relations require progress on the issues of human rights and the rule of law.
Today, Russia is peripheral to many of the major conflicts in the world. While this gives Moscow an opportunity to take care of its own affairs, Russia also needs to define and fulfill its new international role.
While Vladimir Putin’s election to the presidency should not change the course of Russia’s foreign policy, his fate will largely depend on his government’s socio-economic and political performance.
Putin's return to the Kremlin may be good news for Dmitri Medvedev and Russia's oligarchs, but the middle class, especially the younger generation, is less optimistic about his re-election and the country's future.
Western governments have the opportunity to demonstrate to the Russian elite that its ability to prosper in the West depends on its behavior inside Russia itself.
Following the Duma election in December, the political situation in Russia changed fundamentally. Social activity has sharply increased, and the new Russian middle class has awakened.
As China's power continues to grow, Russians need to rediscover themselves as a Euro-Pacific nation and strengthen ties to East Asia in order to avoid becoming Beijing's junior partner.
It is in both Moscow and Washington’s interests to find realistic ways to improve bilateral strategic relations.
Russia has entered a new period in its political history and protests are likely to continue long after the election results are in.