Two of America’s most senior officials arrive in Moscow on Monday to try and forge a warmer relationship with Russia. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates will meet President-elect Dmitry Medvedev and discuss the U.S. anti-missile shield, the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty and the North Korea nuclear issue.

Both countries have had a strained relationship in recent years. Some observers call it one of the lowest points in relations between the states.

“This is not a cold war. We should find a new word for it - neglect of Russia. Dangerous era, much of it comes from U.S. government and the U.S. media,” U.S. news anchor Dan Rather believes.

U.S. accusations of Russia’s backsliding on democracy, different positions on Kosovo’s status, NATO’s expansion - there are plenty of sticking points.

The U.S plans to deploy part of its missile defense system in Poland and Czech Republic aimed according to Washington to secure Europe against possible threats coming from Iran.

Russia opposes the move and calls it a threat to national security.

“The U.S. plans, ten interceptors in Poland and radar in Czech republic, poise no threat to the deterrent capability of Russia. The problem is the U.S. Missile Defense is an open system with a huge potential for expansion. Question is how far is U.S. planning to go!” Vladimir Dvorkin from the International Relations and Economics Institute.

With the U.S. as a leading member of NATO the alliance has already gone far into Eastern Europe. And now Ukraine may possibly be joining the alliance.

“A solution is needed. First, in order to remove the so-called missile defense crisis from the agenda, but also to ease tensions in the relations between Russia and the U.S.,” Vladimir Dvorkin believes.

Relations between the states leave much to be desired, but relations between the leaders look better. Their meetings at times look more like family reunions than formal talks, with warm folksy welcomes and hearty farewell hugs.

President elect Dmitry Medvedev has still to learn who will be his future counterpart. Whoever wins, they will have to learn how to deal with Russia. And with all the political changes in both countries this year might indicate a turn in the relations between Moscow and Washington.

okay so heres my new idea, im going to post on russian news every now and again, russia is a great country in my eyes and i guees it has to do with my heritage, ive recently did a little background research into family history and some of my descendants are from russia. lets just hope medvedev is a little more diplomatic than putin. because if it came down to it russia would kick our fuckin ass.

they havnt decided yet on the issue

Moscow and Washington have again failed to find common ground over U.S. plans to build an anti-missile defence shield in Eastern Europe. The shield dominated talks in the Russian capital between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and their U.S. counterparts Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates.

http://www.russiatoday.ru/