Today the French newspaper Le Figaro has published a lengthy interview with the president of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev. Below we present an English translation. The big news revealed in the interview is a seemingly direct offer to president-elect Barack Obama to cancel Russia’s plans to deploy missiles in Kaliningrad in exchange for Washington abandoning support for the anti-ballistic missile site to be based in Poland.

Medvedev Extends a Hand to Obama E. MOUGOTTE: Mr President, I would like to thank you sincerely for giving your first interview to the foreign press since the election of President Obama to Figaro Newspaper. Many observers were very surprised by your initial reaction. You threatened to deploy missiles in Kaliningrad. Isn’t there the risk that this could introduce conflict to your relations with the new American President?