Putin’s Return as Russia’s President

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In The Media

Putin’s Return as Russia’s President

Putin’s expected return to the Kremlin comes as little surprise, but it raises questions about President Medvedev’s future, the role of the Russian prime minister, and the nature of the U.S.-Russia relationship.

By James F. Collins

Published on Sep 26, 2011

Source: Kojo Nnamdi Show

Speaking on The Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU, Carnegie’s James Collins stated that Putin’s return to the Russian presidency does not come as a major surprise to policy experts on Russia. In Ambassador Collins’s view, the larger question is not necessarily how Putin’s return will affect Russian foreign policy, but rather what role current President Medvedev will play and what will happen to the position of prime minister. Under another Putin administration, Collins argued that “we are going to see a great deal of continuity” as Russia continues to struggle with issues such as economic diversification, a declining population, and poor infrastructure.

Collins also suggested that Putin’s return to the Kremlin will not necessarily jeopardize the U.S.-Russia reset. However, Collins concluded that “there is a question about what comes next. How are we going to continue to build some momentum on the positive side and not let just the things that divide us end up occupying the space for the agenda.”

About the Author

James F. Collins

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program; Diplomat in Residence

Ambassador Collins was the U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation from 1997 to 2001 and is an expert on the former Soviet Union, its successor states, and the Middle East.

Recent Work

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Political Reform Foreign Policy Caucasus Russia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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