Dmitry Medvedev's nomination and his desire to see Vladimir Putin as the next PM means the preservation of current political and economic course, according to Viktor Kremenyuk, deputy director of the U.S. and Canada Institute in Moscow.

Mr Kremenyuk says Western countries are likely to react positively should Medvedev become Russian President.

“It is hard to say exactly what the reaction will be but I think the dominant reaction will be positive. Medvedev is regarded as moderate, competent, well-educated, prepared for this job and that he will continue the process of the Russian economic and social reforms, the areas where he is the most competent right now. In this sense Mr Putin and his participation in the future government may add stability and predictability to this couple.

Maybe the cycle of tense relations that we have right now between Russia and some Western nations is coming to an end. The change of the presidency in both Russia and the U.S. coincides with the understanding that there should be something different from the current state of affairs.

Besides both nations, after having settled or at least identified some of their differences, now are coming back to the problems of non-proliferation, global energy supplies, climate and some other issues in which they are doomed to co-operate, not to quarrel,” assured Kremenyuk.