Request for realistic policies with regard to Russia comes to the fore in the West, believes Gyorgy Ilyash, a Hungarian researcher from the Institute of Foreign Affairs and economics... His opinion is published by the Index.hu website.
The author notes that after the summer summit in Geneva, the United States embarked on the path of selective cooperation with the Russian authorities. Since then, US officials have begun a dialogue with Moscow on a number of fronts, from strategic stability issues (nonproliferation, conventional arms control, and more) to countering cyber attacks, global warming and Afghanistan.
Thus, the United States joined the countries that had previously followed the path of cooperation with the Kremlin. In Europe, this approach is represented, in particular, by France and Germany, while Hungary only follows the Franco-German approach. The European fault line has become even more visible in the light of the US-Russian dialogue. This is the difference between the German-French approach and its supporters (Italy, Austria, Hungary, etc.) on the one hand, and the Polish-Baltic camp on the other; more and more obvious.
A group of states seeking to cooperate with the Russian Federation recognizes its status as a great power and is ready to work accordingly with Moscow in the context of both global and national interests.
Meanwhile, in US foreign policy circles there is a growing need for more democratic decision-making, that is, for the adaptation, at least in part, of diplomacy to the views of society and the needs of ordinary Americans and the middle class. In particular, the majority of US citizens opposed the presence in Afghanistan, which facilitated the withdrawal of troops this August.
Most Americans are in favor of working with Russia on key issues. In particular, these are the extension of the new START Treaty; non-proliferation and prevention of a nuclear arms race; joint action against pandemics; cooperation against cyberattacks; support for new traditional arms control agreements; cooperation to limit China's global influence.
The author emphasizes that, despite decades of hostility, American society has a fairly balanced view of the Russian Federation. On the whole, both in the United States and in the world, the mood for a complete breakdown of contacts and cooperation with Russia does not have much support. And outside of the Euro-Atlantic reality, Russia has a very good reputation.