Michael McFaul who is considered to be one of the ideologists of the 'reset' policy with Russia have recently moved to Russia as the new American ambassador.

Taking into account complicated and contradictory relations between Russia and the United States (the situation with Russian elections, issues on missile defense, disagreement over sanctions against Iran), the appointment of Ambassador McFaul gives us the hope that he would contribute to the "reset".

USSR was a world power which made its own ideology, culture and traditions. It had powerful government, patriotic armed forces, qualified machinery, and diversified education. The entire world was afraid of the might of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics especially the military potential of the country was frightening. Western countries mostly were afraid of spreading the soviet communist`s ideology which was differ from the classical ideology which had been described by Marx and Engels in their works all over the world. One of such countries which tried to resist it was USA which played a great but not the main role in the USSR collapse. So who is to blame in the dissolution of a state?

According to the results of last Duma election on the 4^th of December, Putin's United Russia party got 238 seats out of 450. Compared to previous election, United Russia has suffered significant loss in number of votes.

This election can be called a turning point in history when the dominant political party has dramatically lost popularity, and opposition is ready to join efforts to provide a counterweight to the regime.

One of the leaders of Russian opposition - Garry Kasparov - made a critical speech on the October 26th at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC. The main topic of the conference - 'Risks of the Reset: Why Washington Must Watch Its Step With Moscow' was US-Russian 'Reset' in light of Vladimir Putin's decision to return to the presidency in 2012.

'Reset' policy between Russia and United States of America is one of the issues that is undergoing heated discussions today on both sides of the ocean. At the moment we have some impressive achievements, the new phase of relationship, I would say a new dialog that replaced usual confrontation. But what is next?

As we approaching the 20th anniversary of the collapse of communism and the fall of the Iron Curtain it is interesting to evaluate the current status of U.S. - Russia relations. It is no doubt that Obama's 'Reset' policy became an important new step in this area.

Last year I wrote an essay arguing that it was in the economic interests of Russia to bury Lenin's body. It appears United Russia has come to a similar conclusion.

Russian membership in NATO... When I hear these words I unwittingly become angry. Tell me, how? How can we speak about it? How can we even think about it?

Let's remember our history. Two coalitions, NATO and Warsaw Pact Organization, existed from the middle to the end of XX century. We were not just rivals, but we were enemies. We have almost a half-century history of confrontation.

Few days ago Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Obama reached the agreement that the United States would support Russia's entry in the World Trade Organization if Russia denied selling to Iran missile system S-300. Russia has been trying to enter the WTO since 1993. It could seem that the aim is so close. But is it as good as it seems at the first sight? I have three questions according to this issue.