Russia no longer expects to restart relations with the United States. This writes David Filipov in the article “the Joy left Moscow after the harsh statements of candidates trump”, published on the website of the newspaper the Washington Post, reports UNIAN.
Not so long ago the Russian establishment reveled in the victory of President-elect Donald trump. But that enthusiasm has declined sharply because of the constant stream of bad news from Washington.
Trump acknowledged the findings of the intelligence that Russia is responsible for hacking attacks on the Democratic party during last year’s elections. This was followed by the shocking reports that the Russian special services have dirt on the President-elect. These messages appeared after the introduction of new sanctions the Obama administration.
Moscow all denied it, but then became aware of the harsh statements against Russia on the part of the trump candidates for the post of defense Minister and head of the CIA at a hearing last week. Both candidates called Russia a threat, although such statements are contrary to the appeals of the President to cooperate with Russia in many areas. Now the euphoria faded and was replaced by a kind of grim acceptance.
“Russia wants to reduce expectations about future relations with the United States because she is afraid of disappointment,” said Alexei Makarkin, Vice-President of the Center for political technologies in Moscow.
Makarkin noted that some people in Moscow imagine something like detente between the US and the USSR in the mid 1970-ies, when two nuclear superpowers tried to make transactions on the competition in the cold war. It’s disappointing, but it reflects the words of General James Mattis, candidate trump for the post of Minister of defense, who told the Senate Committee on armed forces that Russia is one of the main threats to the country, and that the President of Russia Vladimir Putin “is trying to destroy the Alliance”.
Mike Pompeo, candidate trump for the post of head of the CIA, condemned Russia, saying that it “threatens Europe” and “does nothing” to defeat the “Islamic state” in Syria.
It’s provocative remarks during the cold war, and a balm for the soul to members of Congress who consider Russia an enemy.
Putin and his press Secretary expressed hope for improved relations, but also warned against “excessive optimism.” Now, this wait and see attitude may be doomed to failure, said Pavel Baev, an analyst at the Institute for the study of the problems of the world (Oslo).
“The Kremlin has good reason to worry that the combination of two scandals – hacking and file – driven trump in the corner,” said bais. “He can come to the conclusion that, if it is difficult to block the anti-Russian campaign, it is much easier to lead it. It is absolutely logical from a political point of view, and also sharp turns – horse trump”.
Baev suggested that some of Putin’s advisers can argue in favor of allowing Trump to quickly and impressively to win together with Moscow, “instead of having to leave it, and allow yourself to explore options of strengthening positions against Russia.”
Win what?
Russia has signaled that it is committed to improving relations when he invited the administration to trump for joint peace talks on Syria, which will hold this month with Turkey and Iran. The Obama administration has been pointedly excluded from this part of the process.
But is that enough? No, if the peace process fails.
The much bigger prize would be if Moscow will help put pressure on North Korea, so that curtailed their efforts to develop missiles that can reach USA – the goal of Pyongyang, about which trump has said “that’s not gonna happen.” But it’s not nothing: Moscow’s relations with Pyongyang are much better than most other countries, but still it failed to stop North Korea.
The main problem is that Russia from the United States will probably need more than Washington from Moscow. The big [problem] – the lifting of sanctions because of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its proxy war in Eastern Ukraine, which the Obama administration extended in 2018 and restrict Russia’s access to Western investment and credit markets.
“The issue of sanctions is likely to be the key for the elite around Putin, and his ability to move in the right direction towards lifting of the sanctions, it is important now for him and for the elite,” said Kirill Rogov, an analyst at the economic policy Institute named Gaidar in Moscow. But Rex Tillerson, whose candidacy for the post of Secretary of state in Moscow perceived with the greatest optimism, believes that now is not the time for the lifting of sanctions.
We will remind, earlier the head of Committee of the upper house of the Russian Parliament on defense and security Frants Klintsevich summed up the expectations of Moscow from bilateral relations with the United States.
“Russia is not waiting for services from the 45th President of the United States, he said. – It is a process that will take place gradually, even in the best case.”
