Valdai Club

Elena Maslova

Igor Makarov

Rustam Makhmudov

Jack Matlock

Roderick Macfarquhar

Vladimir Mazyrin

Andy Mok

Jia Min

Nina Mamedova

Jack Matlock

USA

Former American ambassador to the USSR; Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA Faculty) Columbia University.

Materials

Open Message for Presidents Trump and Putin: Your Telephone Call

As one who advised President Reagan on how to end the Cold War, I welcome your plans to discuss US-Russian relations tomorrow, January 28. Relations have reached a state that is dangerous for both our countries and, in fact, the entire world. One brief conversation cannot resolve the contentions issues, but it can reject the widespread but false assumption that the fundamental interests of our two countries are in conflict.

Jack Matlock: Russians Should Honor Mikhail Gorbachev for Freeing His Country of One-Party Dictatorship

Gorbachev was the first leader of Russia to put the good of the country- that is fundamental reform of an oppressive system—above retaining power.

The Most Fundamental Interests of Both the United States and Russia Are Compatible

Valdai Club experts are optimistic about Russian-US relations, noting that they are moving forward on major issues and there are no obstacles to progress.

Jack Matlock: Maintaining Any Sort of Meaningful Union Becomes Impossible

By 1991 the Soviet Union had changed sufficiently that there was no possibility of returning to the Communist Party dictatorship of the past, which essentially was the goal of Gorbachev’s opponents in the CPSU.