Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview published in the Financial Times on Monday that he favors the reelection of U.S. President Barack Obama.
"I can tell you directly that I would like to see the election of Barack Obama for a second term as president of the United States of America over the election of anyone else," Medvedev said.
The former Cold War foes have managed to patch up their previously frosty relations in the past few years, reaching agreements on several former sticking points in relations including nuclear proliferation and Russia's WTO entry.
Obama has already officially declared his intention to run in presidential elections in November 2012.
"Our relations [with the United States] have improved, something which I accredit to the new administration and to President Obama himself, with whom I am on friendly terms," Medvedev said. "I work well and easily with him."
He said relations between the two countries could change dramatically if a new president was elected.
"We understand that there are representatives of the very conservative wing, who try to solve their political problems by, among other things, venting their emotions at Russia," Medvedev said. "I count myself lucky that my partner as president is a modern man, who wants to see change, not just in the United States, but also in the world order."
