After the election Donald trump President of the United States in relations between Russia and the United States expected the onset of the thaw. The expectations were based not only on hearsay. Trump has accused NATO countries in underpayment to the budget of the Alliance. During the election campaign trump refrained from Russia. European allies of the United States were surprised, disappointed and even scared.
Before any of the winning rose to problem in the way of Russia. In August 2016, President Barack Obama received evidence that Russia tried to interfere in the outcome of the presidential election. Subsequently, these data have been published.
However, the problem of tramp steel contacts members of his team with the Russian statesmen. These contacts were carried out at two levels. First, his team was people who made a deal with the Ukrainian Pro-Russian officials. Second, team members led a trump dubious negotiations with the official representatives of Russia in the period of transfer of power in December 2016.
During these meetings, they talked, apparently, about the weakening of anti-Russian sanctions. In accordance with the laws of the United States, no one other than official representatives can’t deal with the official representatives of the countries in conflict relations with the US. The FBI began an investigation, which resulted in the assistants trump had to resign, which in turn led to the resignation of FBI Director. Washington threatened new Watergate scandal.
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Six months Russia was waiting for, start in relations between the two countries a new stage that would make possible the conclusion of a new “Yalta agreement”, the division of spheres of influence and the recognition of ownership of the Crimea of Russia. The contract could have geopolitical consequences.
Russia seeks to establish a security zone on its Western borders. It could go on the new geopolitical dividing lines that heralded the beginning of a new period of cold war in relations between the superpowers, and especially between Russia and EU countries.
The possibility of the existence of preconditions for a new “Yalta agreement” hinted at some of the leaders of the Finnish geopolitical society. The contract implicitly recognized the geo-strategic sphere of influence of Russia. At least, talk of NATO expansion under President trump would be suspended. However, the plan is not moving forward, because Montenegro has joined NATO. NATO’s doors are open even wider than in 2016. It’s ironic. Trump has gone too far and he has to make a step back.
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Simultaneously, under the pressure of increasing domestic instability and foreign policy failures Vladimir Putin has adopted a number of decisions that can be interpreted as the beginning of the next phase of an aggressive foreign policy and non-linear force. The Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev is appointed the new Commissioner for strategic Affairs in the Balkans. He is considered involved in the annexation of Crimea.
Second, the Kremlin announced the cancellation of a coherent and important meetings with the US, although behind closed doors probably conducted intensive negotiations. So it was during the Cuban missile crisis — the climax of the cold war.
Thirdly, preparations for the large-scale doctrines “the West-2017” in Kaliningrad adds tension in the Baltic region, as evidenced by recent incidents.
Vladimir Putin may give the impression of an unpredictable person, but nothing says that he abandoned the strategy of partial return of the Imperial territories of the Soviet Union. The expansion of the zone of geopolitical influence in the West — the question is of the same order.
Thus, we are not talking about extending the zone of influence of NATO and the expansion of the zone of influence of Russia.