Lukyanov noticed the momentum the progressive movement enjoys in the West. This point will be important at least for Russian political thinking, currently there are no "progressives" in Russia (so-called "Liberals" like Yulia Latynina still ape neo-conservatives), and I suspect that Medvedev and Putin will be the first to exploit this opportunity, Surkov reportedly already is plotting overhaul of their public images which will be made palatable to the emerging Western paradygm.

This is interesting, and probably worth exploring in a diary of its own.

I think the observations of ascendancy for the progressives movement are mistaken. But if Lukyanov is right about what the Kremlin believes, it would open several interesting dimensions in Russo-European relations.

- Jake

Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate.