Changes

Initially relations between Bush and Putin were good with Putin lending passive support to Bush's war on global terror. Putin was restrained from giving much assistance outside the Russian Federation, being pre-occupied with the [[Islamist]] movements waging [[jihad]] inside his own borders.

Initially relations between Bush and Putin were good with Putin lending passive support to Bush's war on global terror. Putin was restrained from giving much assistance outside the Russian Federation, being pre-occupied with the [[Islamist]] movements waging [[jihad]] inside his own borders.

In Bush's late second term, Putin was concerned about jihadist infiltration from [[Turkey]] and [[Syria]] through the [[Republic of Georgia]], and intervened. Former members of the [[Warsaw Pact]], who were more supportive of the war on terror than even the US population, then asked for deployment of missile defense systems on their territories, which the [[Bush administration]] was inclined to favor as a reward for their help. Russia considered missile defence  deployment on their borders overt acts of hostility. Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, in competition to outdo each other, condemned George W. Bush and Condolezza Rice by sidling up to the Russians and Islamists whom the [[Democrat]]s portrayed as oppresed victims of a [[globalism|global]] [[neocon]] [[conspiracy]].

In Bush's late second term, Putin was concerned about jihadist infiltration from [[Turkey]] and [[Syria]] through the [[Republic of Georgia]], and intervened. Former members of the [[Warsaw Pact]], who were more supportive of the war on terror than even the US population, then asked for deployment of missile defense systems on their territories, which the [[Bush administration]] was inclined to favor as a reward for their help. Russia considered missile defence  deployment on their borders overt acts of hostility. Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, in competition to outdo each other, condemned George W. Bush and Condolezza Rice by sidling up to the Russians and Islamists whom the [[Democrat]]s portrayed as oppressed victims of a [[globalism|global]] [[neocon]] [[conspiracy]].

===== Relations under Barack Obama =====

===== Relations under Barack Obama =====

[[File:Targeted sanctions.jpg|right|400px|thumb|''Targetted Sanctions'', from a Moscow art exhibition.]]

[[File:Targeted sanctions.jpg|right|400px|thumb|''Targetted Sanctions'', from a Moscow art exhibition.]]

President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton initially cozied up to Putin, charging the Bush administration was intent on re-igniting the [[Cold War]]. However once the Rosatom-Uranium One deal was completed and the [[Clinton Foundation]] pocketed millions of dollars from Putin cronies in donations and speaking fees, relations began to sour as the Obama administration could no longer ignore geopolitical realities. Putin had protested the Obama administrations illegal drone strikes, and the administration placed sanctions on Russian leaders ostensibly in retaliation for the Crimean referendum.<ref>https://youtu.be/I-9aD45qxbE </ref>

President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton initially cozied up to Putin, charging the Bush administration was intent on re-igniting the [[Cold War]]. However once the Rosatom-Uranium One deal was completed and the [[Clinton Foundation]] pocketed millions of dollars from Putin cronies in donations and speaking fees, relations began to sour as the Obama administration could no longer ignore geopolitical realities. Putin had protested the Obama administrations illegal drone strikes, and the administration placed sanctions on Russian leaders ostensibly in retaliation for the Crimean referendum.<ref>https://youtu.be/I-9aD45qxbE</ref>

President Obama's decision to move an antimissile defense system to [[Romania]] during the [[2016 US Presidential election]] only heightened tensions. Putin, who had repeatedly assailed the antimissile system as a grave danger to Russia's security, called Obama's decision dangerous. This coupled with Obama's implementation of sanctions rather than honor the [[American_foreign_policy#1994_Budapest_Memorandum_on_Security_Assurances|1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]] negotiated by the [[Clinton administration]], displaying it as an empty promise to guarantee Ukrainian independence, only further exposed the befuddlement and inability of the Obama administration to stand by US commitments and the weaknesses of NATO.  

President Obama's decision to move an antimissile defense system to [[Romania]] during the [[2016 US Presidential election]] only heightened tensions. Putin, who had repeatedly assailed the antimissile system as a grave danger to Russia's security, called Obama's decision dangerous. This coupled with Obama's implementation of sanctions rather than honor the [[American foreign policy#1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances|1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]] negotiated by the [[Clinton administration]], displaying it as an empty promise to guarantee Ukrainian independence, only further exposed the befuddlement and inability of the Obama administration to stand by US commitments and the weaknesses of NATO.  

In September 2013, Putin gave a speech stating the need to strengthen Russian culture with traditional values and the Orthodox Christian church. Also, he condemned Western nations and their godless pursuit of [[political correctness]] and [[homosexuality]].<ref>[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/cdedfd64-214f-11e3-a92a-00144feab7de.html#axzz2jdyir54U Putin urges Russians to return to values of religion, FT.com, September 19, 2013]</ref>

In September 2013, Putin gave a speech stating the need to strengthen Russian culture with traditional values and the Orthodox Christian church. Also, he condemned Western nations and their godless pursuit of [[political correctness]] and [[homosexuality]].<ref>[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/cdedfd64-214f-11e3-a92a-00144feab7de.html#axzz2jdyir54U Putin urges Russians to return to values of religion, FT.com, September 19, 2013]</ref>

===== Relations under Donald Trump =====

===== Relations under Donald Trump =====

President [[Donald Trump]] accused Putin of taking [[Crimea]] by force and asked whether Obama was too soft on Russia.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-russia-latest-tweet-accuse-crimea-obama-too-soft-distance-campaign-team-white-house-a7581511.html Donald Trump accuses Russia of taking Crimea by force in attempt to distance himself from campaign allegations]</ref> In March 2017 the US department of state strongly condemned the arrests of hundreds of protesters against Vladimir Putin's government.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/26/hundreds-arrested-mass-protests-against-vladimir-putins-government/ Washington condemns arrests of hundreds of protesters against Vladimir Putin's government]</ref> The US Secretary of State [[Rex Tillerson]] said that US sanctions against Russia will remain in place until Moscow "reverses the actions" it has taken in Ukraine.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/31/politics/rex-tillerson-russia-ukraine/ Tillerson: US to maintain Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia until Crimea is returned]</ref>

President [[Donald Trump]] accused Putin of taking [[Crimea]] by force and asked whether Obama was too soft on Russia.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-russia-latest-tweet-accuse-crimea-obama-too-soft-distance-campaign-team-white-house-a7581511.html Donald Trump accuses Russia of taking Crimea by force in attempt to distance himself from campaign allegations]</ref> In March 2017 the US department of state strongly condemned the arrests of hundreds of protesters against Vladimir Putin's government.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/26/hundreds-arrested-mass-protests-against-vladimir-putins-government/ Washington condemns arrests of hundreds of protesters against Vladimir Putin's government]</ref> The US Secretary of State [[Rex Tillerson]] said that US sanctions against Russia will remain in place until Moscow "reverses the actions" it has taken in Ukraine.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/31/politics/rex-tillerson-russia-ukraine/ Tillerson: US to maintain Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia until Crimea is returned]</ref>

In response to the April, 4 chemical attack on Khan Shaykhun in [[Syria]], president Trump launched 59-Tomahawk rockets on a Syrian Air base nearby, tensions leaded up with Russia, Syrias ally, Putin has called that the US attack was an "illegal act of aggression"<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4389332/Russia-calls-airstrikes-Syria-act-aggression.html</ref>, and answered this attack by sending a fregat to the military base in Syria.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/world/middleeast/russia-iran-us-strikes-syria.html?_r=0</ref> In April 2017 Putin explained that the US-Russia relations have gotten worse under Trump.<ref>http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/228064</ref>

In response to the April, 4 chemical attack on Khan Shaykhun in [[Syria]], president Trump launched 59-Tomahawk rockets on a Syrian Air base nearby, tensions leaded up with Russia, Syrias ally, Putin has called that the US attack was an "illegal act of aggression",<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4389332/Russia-calls-airstrikes-Syria-act-aggression.html</ref> and answered this attack by sending a fregat to the military base in Syria.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/world/middleeast/russia-iran-us-strikes-syria.html?_r=0</ref> In April 2017 Putin explained that the US-Russia relations have gotten worse under Trump.<ref>http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/228064</ref>

====Relations with the EU====

====Relations with the EU====

After [[Crimea]] joined Russia, the [[European Union]] imposed sanctions against Putin and his government.<ref>http://rt.com/business/168192-eu-sanctions-crimea-deadlock/</ref>

After [[Crimea]] joined Russia, the [[European Union]] imposed sanctions against Putin and his government.<ref>http://rt.com/business/168192-eu-sanctions-crimea-deadlock/</ref>

The relations within the EU are different and divided, it is mainly the following countries advocating namely an aggressive attitude towards the Russian government: the Baltic states ([[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]])  [[Poland]], [[Sweden]], [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], [[France]] and the [[United Kingdom]]<ref>http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/russian-sanctions-debate-divides-eu/</ref> <ref>https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4464/eu-russia</ref>,

The relations within the EU are different and divided, it is mainly the following countries advocating namely an aggressive attitude towards the Russian government: the Baltic states ([[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]])  [[Poland]], [[Sweden]], [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], [[France]] and the [[United Kingdom]],<ref>http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/russian-sanctions-debate-divides-eu/</ref><ref>https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4464/eu-russia</ref>

while the follow countries belong to the pro Kremlin camp or want to maintain a better relationship: [[Hungary]], [[Italy]] and [[Czech Republic]].

while the follow countries belong to the pro Kremlin camp or want to maintain a better relationship: [[Hungary]], [[Italy]] and [[Czech Republic]].