EVENT: March 26 event in Washington: “Major Crisis in U.S.-Russia relations and searching for the way out”

Please join the discussion with the leading American foreign policy experts on "Major Crisis in US – Russia relations and searching for the way out” on Thursday, March 26 from 2.30 – 6.30 PM at the Hart Senate Office Building, Room 216,

To register visit www.RussiaHouse.org/wrf.php

Four US administrations have been in power since the collapse of communism and the USSR. It looks like not a single one, however, has developed a truly sound Russia policy. As a result we see the most dangerous level of confrontation not only since the end of Cold War but probably since 1962 Cuban missile crisis

The current crisis in Ukraine which many see as a result of U.S. – Russia geopolitical confrontation underscores once again the urgent necessity of developing a new foreign policy agenda that will benefit both American and Russian long term strategic interests.

President Barack Obama keeps saying that "it’s not a new Cold War but a very specific issue related to Russia’s unwillingness to recognize that Ukraine can chart its own path.” However, as the deterioration of conditions in Ukraine continues we may face not only the return of the new Cold War but even more dangerous scenario.

It is extremely important, therefore, for both Washington and Moscow to rise above the level of mutual finger pointing. From our perspective, U.S. policymakers, spokespersons and public commentators need to recognize that restoring trust, dialogue and mutual respect with the only other major thermonuclear power on the planet is absolutely crucial for our national security and the peace of the world. The US and Russia have fundamentally compatible interests on terrorism, proliferation of WMD, piracy, illegal cyber activity, drug trafficking, climate change, and many other areas.

It may be worth recalling that in the most dangerous periods of the Cold War the risks of military confrontation were defused by the Administrations of Eisenhower, Kennedy and Reagan. It is the time for both Washington and Moscow to negotiate an honorable end of this crisis.