Medvedev Hopeful That Obama Will Thaw Relations

Russia’s president believes Barack Obama’s presidency “will act to overcome problems which have accumulated” between his country and the US, he said in Washington. “We have great aspirations” for Obama’s White House, Dmitry Medvedev added. Former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, who moderated the meeting, agreed, citing a “huge opportunity” for relations under the two new, young leaders, the Wall Street Journal reports.

After warning last week that he might install Russian missiles on European borders, Medvedev said Russians “really don’t want to deploy anything. We will not do anything until America makes the first step” by finishing its own missile-defense shield in eastern Europe. The Russian president said he hoped Obama would be willing to discuss the matter and “not just rubber stamp” President Bush’s policies.
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