Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said he hopes US President-elect Barack Obama will help rebuild the strained relations between their two countries.
In a speech in Washington, Mr Medvedev said that a new US administration might be able to address what he described as a lack of "necessary mutual trust".
He said he wanted to meet Mr Obama soon after he takes office in January.
The Russian leader also indicated that Russia might accept a compromise over a planned US missile shield in Europe.
Two weeks ago, he said Moscow would neutralise the possible deployment by the US of a tracking radar in the Czech Republic and missile interceptors in Poland by stationing short-range missiles in its western enclave of Kaliningrad.
The US insists the shield is incapable of threatening Russia and is designed solely to guard against missile attacks by "rogue states".
'Encouraged by signals'
In his speech to the Council on Foreign Relations following the G20 summit on the global economic crisis in Washington, President Medvedev welcomed the election of Mr Obama on 4 November.
"US-Russian relations lack the necessary mutual trust. We pin such hopes on the arrival of the new US administration," he explained.
We have a chance to solve the problem through either agreeing on a global [anti-missile] system or, as a minimum, to find a solution on the existing programmes which would suit the Russian Federation
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Mr Medvedev said Russia had a strong "strategic partnership" with China, "a very good, full-fledged, friendly exchange".
"Of course I want to have the same kind of relations with the United States," he went on.
Relations between Moscow and Washington have been particularly strained since August by Russia's war with Georgia over the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Mr Medvedev said the first step to restoring relations would be a meeting soon after Mr Obama's inauguration, "without prevarications or preconditions".
The president also said that Russia would not be the first to escalate the situation over the plans for the US missile shield in Europe.
"We will not do anything until America takes the first step," he said.
Moscow says it will neutralise the US system with short-range missiles
Mr Medvedev said he had been encouraged by signs that Mr Obama was less enthusiastic about the shield than President George W Bush.
"[The] first signal we received shows that our partners plan to think about this programme rather than to simply rubber-stamp it," he said.
The Russian president also for the first time suggested Moscow might accept changes to the US shield plans, rather than simply their abandonment.
"We have a chance to solve the problem through either agreeing on a global system or, as a minimum, to find a solution on the existing programmes which would suit the Russian Federation," he added.
Knowing the past relationship between the United States and Russia do you believe Obama will help make it better?
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12 comments:
Well i believe that he is capable of re-establishing relationships with Russia. I believe so because Obama has already demonstrated great potential in uniting opposing sides, such as the idea of electing representatives from both parties in his cabinet. Therefore, he will most likely succeed in making the United states allies of Russia.
Lisenny Rodriguez
Knowing the conflict that U.S.A. has between Russia from
a long time ago. I think Mr. President Barack Obama will
make things better. Russia president Dmitry Medvedev say
that he will like to meet president elect Mr.Obama after january 20. Mr.Medvedev Russia president also says he belief in a change. Obama also say it that the change has come to the American nation. Obama will make evrything better, because he want and belief in the world peace.
Barack says no to the war. Dmitry is doing the same thing.
-Rafael Consuegra
For some people it might be insane that the United States, and Russia could be able to give each other a chance to re-establish a relationship. I think that president Obama might try to create a new relation because as I think people sometimes people deserve a second chance, but is a really tough decision, but you never know what could happen unless you try it.
Daliz Rivas!!!
Right now Obama has alot on his plate and I feel that he will make things better. He is trying to join each persons strength such as bringing together the republicans and the democrats so why not join forces with russia, it may be for the better. I feel he is trying to make more peace than more enimies and thats the way it should be during this time of crisis! This dude in russia who i cant spell his name seems to have a good reputation when it comes to links between other countries such as China so hey why not, but if he try n screw with the U.S then we get to hand it to him ( kick his butt)
~~Malika Franklin~~
i believe that its possile for use obama to reunit with Russia. In the pass we had conflict wit Russia but Obama is willing to settle for peace. I also think that this will help us American out of our Crisis.This will be a great idea for us at this point.War just putting us in more crisis.
Jamila Lofton
I believe that president Obama will make a change in the united states. The reason I say this is because the president of russia Mr Medvedev even saud that he cant wait until he meets Obama. for the president of russia to say that,even though the history we had together, i thinkn thats the first step for us to have a truce.Also maybe Obama can stop the missle crisis, and to us thats a big step
Daniel rivera
I think that he can help
because he have a new
diplomacy so it may help
to change the relationship
betwwen this two contries.
jonnathan quito
i believe that obama will do what ever it takes to make change for the better in his country even if that means compromising with the russians, i think we have a great leader that will many great things happen for the united states
Edith Santiago
I hope Obama and Medvedev can establish a good relationship between UNITED STATES and RUSSIA because I think RUSSIA is a powerful country that can help the UNITED STATES in this financial crisis and restoring peace throughout the world and besides is better to have RUSSIA in our side instead of be our enemy because RUSSIA has nuclear weapons that can lead to a nuclear war with the UNITED STATES................................................................JESSIE SOSA
yes i believe obama will make things better for the u.s and russia. I believe that it will not hurt us and if everything works out we will have a normal relationship with russia.He is capable of making that work. He believes in world peace.
arielle lopez
i think that President Barack Obama will do everything for the better in this country and i also think that if he having relationships with the Russians he can make change for the better to the united states..
cristal acosta_
I believe Brack Obama will fix the relationship with russia. The world itself is at a stand back thanks to global warming so i dont think its smart for two world powers to have tention between eachother. Obama wants the best for his country i dont think if he would indanger his country. I think it would a good thing because it would open many different changes, and thats what Obama whole campain is about.
Ramell Pearson
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