Possible Effects of Clinton-Lavrov Talks

Yevgeny Volk / March 10, 2009

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend a press conference following a meeting on March 6, 2009 in Geneva. Russia and the United States have agreed to a work plan towards renewing the START disarmament treaty, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday.

The Geneva meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hardly attracted Russian spotlight. Moscow does not have much faith in a fast track success toward improving bilateral relations and resolving multiple thorny issues. Nevertheless, the Kremlin is viewing with hope some of the signals the Washington Administration has been sending Moscow, especially those concerning missile defenses in Europe, as helping to meet Russia’s objectives. Some Moscow observers believe that the Obama Administration’s approach to the U.S.-Russian relations that is currently taking shape is fraught with serious conceptual flaws.

The circulating idea of a trade off on the U.S. plans to set up a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe and Russia stepping up (more…)