- How can you describe relations between Russia and the USA ?
- Our current relations with the USA contain the main thing - pragmatism, a sober assessment of differences, and a sober assessment of vectors which coincide. Where we can move quickly, we move quickly, where we cannot move quickly we assess each other from the point of view of who can make the larger contribution. I believe the main thing is that these relations should not undergo fundamental change. There will never be any return to what we had in relations between the Soviet Union and the USA. The climate has changed, and the structure of our relations has changed. And I would prefer to speak more and more about what is constructive in our relations with the USA than about the difficulties which exist. Difficulties are also a sign of healthy relations, and there are no countries in whose relations they do not occur at the most varied stages, in the most varied fields. In my view, and I judge this on the basis of more than three years of work within the Russian-American working group on the fight against terrorism, we have constructive relations.
- What about relations with the USA in the area of the former Soviet Union?
- It's another matter that some people wish, and not only in the USA but also in the EU, to constrain Russia in the area of the former Soviet Union. On occasion our American partners have not concealed this. But the main thing here is to retain our positions, I would say, of healthy competition. I am sure where a vacuum arises, whether as a result of insufficiently vigorous efforts on our part, I mean Russia, then of course someone else will come along, since the sovereign states which now live in the area of the former Soviet Union have a choice, there are alternatives. But it seems to me that not only historical common ground, but also the economic structure of our former relations overall, both within the Russian empire and the Soviet Union, and today, this structure is generally mutually beneficial and it has to be preserved to the maximum. I have an understanding view of the aspiration of other countries to acquire new friends, but believe that they should not thereby ditch their old friends. A sensible leader, a sensible state will not give up its old friends in order to acquire new ones. It will seek to increase the potential of new friends, but not by giving up its old ones. That is how I see our current relations with the USA in the area of the former Soviet Union.