US Elections Behind Current Tensions Between Moscow and Washington

The tense relations between Moscow and Washington should be viewed in the context of the ongoing presidential election campaign in the United States, instead of a prelude to a bitter conflict, journalist Petr Akopov wrote for Vzglyad, adding that both sides are not going to launch combat operations against one another.

"The current escalation of the conflict is related to … Washington's standing weakening in the Middle East and Syria, as well as Russia improving its positions in the region and the ongoing presidential campaign in the US," he said, referencing the upcoming election campaigns in France and Germany as additional factors.

Christopher Weafer, senior partner and founder at Macro Advisory, also attributed heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington to the US presidential election.

"To some extent it's difficult to get an accurate reading as to what this actually means longer term, but everybody is hoping that this is a part of the election dialogue and that it will ease once the election is over," he told Bloomberg.

Weafer added that both presidential hopefuls, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, should understand that "the economy actually matters a great deal more to President Putin than, say, geopolitics or global power." In his opinion, this is something that "is missed to a large extent in the West."

"There is a great deal of focus that Russia wants to rebuild its military, that it's some sort of a threat. That's not how I read it," he said, reiterating that for Moscow the economy is a greater priority.

Weafer mentioned that current tensions between Russia and the US are complicated by the fact that it involves an ongoing war in Syria, which Akopov described as a millstone around Washington's neck.

Akopov maintained that policymakers in the US want to resolve the five-and-a-half-year long crisis as soon as possible, but they would rather not make major concessions to Russia. Moreover, the US wants to prevent Russia from expanding its influence in the Middle East. This, according to the journalist, is the context behind Washington trying to exert pressure on the Kremlin and adding fuel to the already strained relations with Moscow.

President Vladimir Putin understands this dynamics, Akopov observed, referring to Washington's activities as a "psychological war" which has prompted the Russian leader to adopt a tougher stance on Washington.

"Next year [détente] will take place regardless of who will replace Barack Obama, Francois Hollande or Angela Merkel," the journalist said. "Washington, Berlin and Paris will make efforts to reduce tensions in their relations with Russia."