President Obama doesn't need to make concessions to Putin.
Russia's first olive branch towards President Barack Obama has been offered with almost indecent haste. Only last year, the Kremlin declared that short-range missiles would be dispatched to Kaliningrad, its Baltic enclave, in retaliation for America's plan to site a defensive shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. This threat evaporated yesterday, swiftly replaced by Russian diplomats talking of "restarting" their relations with America and even Vladimir Putin, the flint-eyed prime minister, declaring himself "optimistic" about turning a new page.
Russia undoubtedly hopes to steer Mr Obama towards reviewing America's stance on missile defence. The outlines of a possible rapprochement between the two countries are emerging: America will defer the deployment of its anti-missile system, perhaps indefinitely, in return for Russian cooperation in the Security Council, notably by imposing more economic sanctions on Iran.
In truth, however, Russia has little choice but to seek an accommodation with the superpower.
FULL ARTICLE
29 January 2009
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