The Implications of Putin’s Return to Presidency

At a recent event, Angela Stent discussed the announcement by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that he will run in, and surely win, Russia’s presidential election to be held next spring. According to Stent, it is unlikely that Putin’s return to presidency will lead to any drastic policy changes toward the United States, as any major decision made by current president Dmitri Medvedev, including the negotiation of the START treaty, would have had Putin’s approval.