
It does not serve Russia's interests to push Obama into a corner. Because if he [Mr. Medvedev] is really serious about making such aggressive gestures, any new [U.S.] president, regardless of which party, Republican or Democrat, that feels tested by a Russian leader like that, will need to show that he is strong and [will] need to push back ... So if he was hoping for a more conciliatory reaction from Washington, he just won't get it because no president, particularly early in his administration, wants to be perceived as weak.