Russian analysts are divided over the future of ties with Washington following the arrival of the new U.S. ambassador to Moscow, Michael McFaul.
President Barack Obama nominated McFaul, who is considered one of the architects of the "reset" in Russian-U.S. relations, for the ambassador's post in September. The Senate approved his candidacy last December and he was sworn in on Wednesday. McFaul is due to officially begin his duties on Saturday.
The head of the Institute of Strategic Studies and Analysis, Sergei Oznobishchev said McFaul will be met in Russia “with mixed attitudes at best, and negative at worst.”
“He is not the best choice, regardless of what the State Department’s reasons are,” he said. “It is a certain sign of dissatisfaction with bilateral ties and it’s evident that many issues, easily solved with another ambassador, will get more complicated”
Yevgeny Minchenko, who heads the Moscow-based Institute for Political Expertise, said that McFaul has worked in Moscow, has extensive knowledge of Russian politics and is acquainted with many politicians and experts.
“I think that [McFaul’s nomination] shows how seriously the current U.S. administration takes relations with Russia,” the expert said.
Prior to his current nomination, McFaul, 48, was a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director, Russia and Eurasia Affairs, for the White House National Security Staff. He speaks fluent Russian.
Minchenko added that he did not share “apocalyptic expectations” of those who think that the new ambassador was sent to Moscow to “mastermind another Orange Revolution.”
“In my opinion, the U.S. administration has so far been cautious about the events in Russia. Frankly speaking, I don’t see any signs of pressure. If that had been the case, scandals would be quick to follow… but, as we all can see, nothing like this occurred,” Minchenko said.
He said that Obama, who is under pressure from his political opponents for his stance towards Russia, was unlikely to resort to pressure.
"At the moment, to begin harsh pressure on the Russian leadership means to admit that measures taken in the past few years were wrong. It seems to me that so far the U.S. Department of State would prefer to follow a conservative scenario in relations with Russia, but, on the other hand, it’s obvious that if there are dynamic changes in Russia, they will also adjust their position,” the expert said.
