The head of the Senate Committee on intelligence, Republican Richard Burr has stated that the public hearings about the relationships of the team of Donald Trump with Russia would be held but a specific date could not name, assuring that it will happen “very soon”. In the house of representatives meanwhile has already decided on the date — “debriefing” will begin March 20. However, to dump all the “blame” for the initiation of hearings on the Democrats would be wrong. Among Republicans also enough of those who criticize Donald Trump. For example, actively calls the FBI, which does not report about the investigation of “dangerous relations,” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close friend of John McCain, known for his tough stance towards Russia.

The President of the American University in Moscow Edward Lozansky believes that congressmen are going to have discussions not only about relationships, people, President of Russia, but also in the whole to consider in detail the “Russian factor” in American politics. It is possible that in the process of the hearing can “fly to new head” in the administration. Recall that the only victim of “contacts with Russia” was the former adviser to trump, Michael Flynn, which, however, was later declared as the Turkish agent.

In Russia the congressional investigation react calmly and do not think that they can somehow influence relations between Moscow and Washington. First, despite the claims of Donald Trump, no “deal” or attempts to “get along” is not observed. Apparently, to wait for serious changes to the personal meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is not worth it. Second, the debate about Moscow’s influence on the American elections and the inadmissibility of contacts of representatives of trump with Russia reflect a greater political controversy in the United States.

They remember about Russia, because they have infighting. Through the foreign policy of the Congress to solve their internal Affairs. The team of Barack Obama, before leaving, made a “bookmark” in the language of the special services that help them to treat Trump. It was in a sense a stroke of genius. Pledged during the election campaign bombs are still used today. They will not stop until it has completed the anti-Russian theme. And who else are they to do this, use the — EU, Canada or Mexico? It is not productive looks. In their opinion, the theme here is harmless.

In any case, public hearings in Congress do not add to the positive in Russian-American relations. And while in Moscow, I think that is much to worry about in Washington initiated the investigation makes no sense, since they are largely political in nature, the General atmosphere of such events still affect. What is happening in the U.S. once again confirms that the administration of Donald Trump still has not formulated a clear foreign policy strategy and the basic forces are thrown on internal political strife.

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Not since the end of the Cold War has Russia dominated U.S. headlines to the degree we’ve seen during this election. According to U.S. intelligence services, Russian President Vladimir Putin is waging a silent, global war against liberal democracy. President Barack Obama recently derided Russia as a “smaller,” “weaker” nation. But according to President-elect Donald Trump and some of his Cabinet designees, friendlier relations with Moscow could benefit the U.S.

Is Russia a growing threat to be feared, or a valuable potential partner to embrace? We look at how Russia stacks up against the U.S. and another rival economic power, China.

Life in Russia

When Putin came to power in 1999, he promised to end the chaos under Boris Yeltsin’s leadership — which critics said was marked by corruption and political upheaval — and help improve the quality of people’s lives. In return, Putin said he expected Russians to let him do as he pleased in politics.

For the past 20 years, life for most Russians did improve. “People were able to take vacations abroad in Turkey or Egypt or the Czech Republic. They were able to send their children to university, sometimes even outside the country. They could remodel their kitchens and put in modern European appliances,” said Hannah Thoburn, a research fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C.

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Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the Kremlin isn’t communicating with Trump, according to a Reuters report, which cited Russian news agencies.

His statement, however, is at odds with what a senior Russian diplomat had said just days after the presidential election. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had told Interfax, a state-run news agency, on Nov. 10 that “there were contacts” with Trump’s team.

“We have just begun to consider ways of building dialogue with the future Donald Trump administration and channels we will be using for those purposes,” he reportedly said.

Taken at face value, Peskov’s statement indicates that Russia hasn’t been in contact with Trump’s team at all, but the wording suggests that Russia is only saying that it isn’t currently in contact with the president-elect’s transition staff.

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