Watch experts discuss the future of Russian-American relations and how the Obama administration could handle issues such as Iranian nuclear ambitions, NATO membership expansion, and the U.S. missile shield project.

Listen to experts discuss the future of Russian-American relations and how the Obama administration could handle issues such as Iranian nuclear ambitions, NATO membership expansion, and the U.S. missile shield project.

Jeffrey Mankoff, an expert on Russia, says the dispute that led Russia to cut off natural gas to Ukraine has its origins in differences over pricing as well as Ukraine's interest in closer ties with the West.

Russia's toughest economic challenge since the collapse of 1998 could lead it to a less confrontational foreign policy and a loss of international standing, writes CFR's Stephen Sestanovich.

Robert E. Hunter, who was U.S. ambassador to NATO during the Clinton administration, says he does not expect NATO foreign ministers to enlarge the alliance to include Georgia or Ukraine at the next meeting in December.

Listen to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speak about U.S.-Russia relations in the next administration with former secretary of state Madeleine K. Albright.

Watch Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speak about U.S.-Russia relations in the next administration with former secretary of state Madeleine K. Albright.

A transcript of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev's appearance at CFR on November 15, 2008.

The next U.S. president will have to confront a deteriorating U.S.-Russia relationship.

Middle East Regional Editor Christopher Dickey, Contributing Editor John Barry, and Moscow Bureau Chief Owen Matthews report that Russia is weaker than it looks. Most NATO leaders insist the world is too interdependent to allow another cold war. Russia is not the Soviet Union. And Western powers don't want to be drawn into a game of bluff that will only inflate Vladimir Putin's prestige.

Vali Nasr argues that U.S. diplomacy can turn Tehran against Russia.

Al Breach, an analyst focusing on Russian markets, discusses factors contributing to steep recent losses for Russian equities.

Steven Pifer, an expert on Russian affairs and former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, says U.S.-Russia relations have "deteriorated significantly" since their high point just after 9/11. The next U.S. administration should return to negotiations on limiting strategic arms and other areas of mutual interest, he says.

The global financial crisis has taken a particularly harsh toll on Russia, where the leading stock index has lost more than half its value since July. Moscow has devised a bailout package, but analysts say more pain could be on the way, particularly if oil prices keep falling.

Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Russian Federation, discusses Russian geoeconomic relations in a CFR meeting.

Listen to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discuss Russia's foreign policy interests, including recent developments in its relations with the West.

The financial crisis could lead the United States to turn inward and ignore challengers such as Vladimir Putin and Hugo Chavez. However, in this Bloomberg op-ed, Amity Shlaes warns against this temptation and points out that foreign issues have a way of becoming immediate as well.

Whatever the economic gains under Putin, they would have been greater under a democratic regime.

Watch Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discuss Russia's foreign policy interests, including recent developments in its relations with the West.