Student’s Blog

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 officially considered as the end of struggle or competition between two super powers and the beginning of modern Russia-U.S. relations.  Nevertheless, in order to understand present situation between Russia and U.S we can compare how their relations are covered in Russian and U.S. mass media.

After the 9/11, according to USA Today of the 20^th of September 20011, there was possibility that U.S.-Russian relations became closer because this tragedy could unify two nations against one common enemy: terrorism.  Moreover, this newspaper describes Putin as a “pragmatic politicians” who does not gain anything from confrontation between two countries.

Russian newspaper Izvestia2(2001) also proves this possibility and writes that Russia and West can become friends under the common threat such as terrorism.

In 2002, Council of Foreign Affairs3 publish article where author describes relations between Bush and Putin as friendly; nevertheless, author said that friendship should be used to discuss not only military questions but also human rights and terrorism.

In the article of the 16^th of May, 2002 of Izvestia4 provides words of Michael McFall, an expert in Russia, argued that Russia has not already perceived as a threat to the USA. Moreover, he said that present relations between Putin and Bush are closer that Yeltsin and Clinton.

In 2004, United Press International5 released a big article that was dedicated to future of Russia-U.S. relations. In order to understand it Peter Lavelle, Moscow analyst interviewed several experts such as Dale Herspring, Peter Rutland, Andrew C. Kuchins, Ira Straus, Gordon Hahn, Vlad Sobell and Janusz Bugajski.

Some of experts such Dale Herspring, Andrew C. Kuchins agree in one matter that nowadays USA has less opportunity to influence on Russia that during Soviet time. Peter Rutland, professor of government at Wesleyan University, argues that U.S. will find method how to maintain and conduct relations with “authoritarian Russia” using its experience with such “undemocratic rulers” as P. Musharaff in Pakistan or Royal family of Saudi Arabia.

Nevertheless, Gordon Hahn, a scholar and author of Russia’s Revolution for Above: Reform, Transition and Revolution in the Fall of the Soviet Communist Regime, 1985-2000, state that in spite of possibility to unify against terrorism, Russia and USA can differ in opinion concerned separation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia that Russia supports.

In November 2007, website of American National Public Radio6 that is listened by 26 million of Americans published article about rising of tensions between Russia and USA. It gives words of U.S. Vice-president Dick Cheney who state that Russia use “energy as a political tool” in the case of Ukraine. Moreover, one of the main reason of tensions between two countries, according to NPR, NATO’s eastward expansion when former Soviet Union’s states joined to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that was created after WW II to fight against communism.

Article in Izvestia (2007)7 also proved reality of tensions between Russia and USA.  For example, author criticized statement of U.S. that Russia uses energy in order to press on their neighbors.   Moreover, according to this newspaper, Washington does not like that Russia sells weapon to Iran, Syria, and Venezuela; supports such regions as Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In conclusion, according to U.S. and Russian mass media, from 2001 till 2007 U.S. – Russian relations have change very much: from possibility of closeness to political confrontation.