In 2009 Russian Valdai Club members produced an analytical report for the first meeting of the newly established Russian-U.S. section of the Valdai International Discussion Club. This report was inspired by a presentation of a project entitled “Rethinking U.S. Policy toward Russia” written by a group of leading American experts led by Robert Legvold, Professor Emeritus of Columbia University. The authors of the Valdai Club report had two aims: first, to engage the Russian political elite in a systematic discussion over their view on the relations with the U.S. and ways of their normalization after the significant deterioration. Second, this report could become the basis for an open and pragmatic dialogue with the American expert community about what the relationship between the two countries could and should look like in the new era. The authors highlighted the necessity of good relations between Russia and the US for both powers as well as for the rest of the world. However, the authors argued, Russia should not forget its national interests in the mid- and long-term prospects. They outlined the basic needs of Russia and the US and areas, where these interests intersect.
