European Affairs

Since assuming office as President of the Russian Federation in May, Dmitry Medvedev has been positioning himself as having a gentler style and rhetoric than his predecessor, Vladimir Putin.

World leaders, however, should not get too complacent with Medvedev’s appeal. Speaking about Medvedev’s softer approach, Masha Lipman, a political analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center, recently noted the “... essence of Russian foreign policy remains the same.”

Last week, Medvedev himself stated, “Politicians are people, and they should have their own tone and their own style. But that does not change the basic tenets of policy.”

Many people continue to wonder if Putin is still running the country from his new position as Prime Minister. I’m sure Putin maintains quite a bit of influence, but Medvedev appears to support virtually all the former President’s policies.

Medvedev may seem more accessible, but has the ability to be confrontational, following directly in Putin’s footsteps. For example, he has sharply criticized the United States regarding recent turmoil in world financial markets, noting the troubles began with the collapse of the US housing market.

Medvedev may seem to be easier to deal with, but he will do whatever he thinks is right for his country. The face of Russia’s government may have changed, but its policies remain the same.

Reference

Wiseman, Paul. “Medvedev steps into spotlight.” USA Today. July 2, 2008.