Demons and the US-Russia Relationship (Moscow Times, RUSSIA)

Many observers have written that the change in leadership in the United States will open up new opportunities for U.S.-Russian relations. It is hard to argue with this for the simple reason that bilateral relations could hardly get worse than they are now.

First, there is an extremely high level of mistrust between the two countries. Both sides have lost almost all desire to understand the motives behind the other.

Second, U.S.-Russian relations are completely out of balance. When leaders make their usual statements about common threats or the challenges facing both countries, their words ring hollow. Even in areas where the interests of both sides clearly coincide, there is no real progress because each side tries to "sell" its cooperation at a higher cost than the other does.

Third, the mechanisms for maintaining healthy relations have dwindled. The multifaceted communication between Russia and the United States that existed during the Soviet era and the 1990s has today been reduced to nothing but formal contacts and the exchange of demagoguery.

What's more, the relationship is lopsided.

http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/1045/42/373748.htm