A message to Moscow: do not underestimate the new US President.

The Obama administration has put out clear signals to Russia about real possibilities for engagement. Many Russian commentators believe that the new US administration ‘needs’ Russia to help solve its difficulties over Iran, Afghanistan or Iraq. Igor Yurgens recently told a high-level audience in London that the letter Obama sent to Medvedev was unlike anything Moscow had seen out of Washington DC in years. The Russian side has leaked details of the letter that suggest that the US is prepared to drop plans to deploy a missile defense system in Central Europe if Russia can help rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The onus is now on Russia to deliver.