WASHINGTON, January 21. /TASS/. Donald Trump's return to power in Washington will lead to a step-by-step normalization of relations between Russia and the United States. Bill Boerum, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Governors of the US branch of the International Sister Cities Association Bill Boerum said in an interview with TASS.
"I believe we will see step-by-step moves toward a normalization of relations with Russia. He knows the strength and power of the country and Russia’s influence in the world. In his meetings with President Putin, he took the measure of the man as a strong and successful leader of his country. He respected him enough - unlike President Obama - even to meet privately and off-the record with him," the expert said.
"But first Trump needs to mediate an end to the conflict in Ukraine, as well as disengage NATO policy makers (in the US and Europe) pushing for Ukraine membership in the alliance. Trump knows the connivance in Ukraine of the Obama and Biden administrations, and blatant corruption by the latter," he added.
According to Boerum, "With a busy and deep agenda for transformative change in US federal policies (including many global challenges) improvement in relations with Russia may not be high on the agenda. Such improvement will need the persistence and deftness of Russia’s diplomats and advocacy by realist policy supporters in the US, both such groups identifying and stressing common interests.".