The president has been careful in choosing his words, subtly hinting that power struggle should be avoided by all means. Indeed, a smooth transfer of power will always be in the interest of the nation -- for its stability, continuity and progress. Well, he speaks for Putin, his former mentor. (zizenn)

Yep, everything Medvedev's said here sounds like something Putin would say, they see things the same way

It seems Russia has already a troika running the country: Medvedev, Putin, and....you might have guessed it, Sergei Lavrov. The latter is an excellent team player and a consummate diplomat. Yet I would say that the two most important possibilities are the following: Medvedev (another term), followed by Putin (another two terms. By that time the current duo will have stablized Russia and steered the state ship to calmer waters, both for the sake of Russia and the world at large. I would suggest though that RT avoid giving coverage to such petty political exercise. Leave that to the United States where the game of who will be the next president starts at the swearing in ceremony of the elected president and goes on for four years with almost no respite.

As for who that might be the third man that would rule Russia in the next term there is at least one point that we know for sure: I haven't been contacted yet neither by Pres. Medvedev nor by Pres. Putin, so the most likely outcome is that I will not be offerred the post of Presidency over Russia. I guess that is the best for Russia and it will bring stability to all citizens of Russian Federation for, knowing myself, I would surely immediatelly enter the war against US and its allies with all allovable weaponry. Ni shagu vnazad. Cheers!!!

I totally support Mr. Putin as always.

lol Vladimir... Maybe Mr Kudrin is tired of dealing with finances and wants to be president

Sergei Borisovich Ivanov comes to mind, however Putin is the best man to keep the country running to avoid another 90's debacle and to remind the US and their puppet NATO that Russia is not run by Yeltsin and the criminal Berzovsky , and the dream of the US "new order" after the fall of the Soviet Union is definitely over. fred...oregon usa

Place your bets! My bet is on Putin. He is a real leader and the Russian people know it. Anyone can be a bureaucrat or pilitician, but few can be a real leader like Putin. Putin is Russia.