Interviewed for Voice of America's Ukrainian frequency, CDDRL Director Michael McFaul expresses optimism about the political potential and intentions of Russia's new president, Dmitri Medvedev.

He was also quoted by Bloomberg L.P. for such optimism:
"`Our response is, help us understand how kicking them out of the G-8 is going to help the democratic activists inside Russia,' Obama's main Russia adviser, Stanford University scholar Michael McFaul, said in an interview. Obama believes the U.S. can do business with Russia on arms control and counter-terrorism 'and talk with them about democracy at the same time,' McFaul said."