Medvedev Will Not Change Russian Policy

James Nixey, Chatham House | May 9, 2008

Despite hopes for change in the West, the new Russian president is hardly going to initiate a new foreign policy. ++ While Medvedev’s liberal instincts are debatable, the forces arrayed around and against him remained the same. ++ Besides, Medevedev’s presidency was not earned but “given” to him, for his unquestioning loyalty to Putin. ++ It is a widespread misconception that Europe is massively dependent on Russian oil and gas. ++ Europe should build a new collective strategy towards Russia and use its leverage.