Obama’s address Tuesday to graduates of an elite Moscow university, part of a generation eager to see Russia’s power and influence restored, touched on Russians’ suffering in the post-Soviet world and painted a picture of a democratic future.
Just as the president sprinkled his speeches in the Middle East with references to the Quran and partnership with the Muslim world, Obama spoke knowledgeably to Russians about issues close to their hearts.
And he quietly criticized Russia’s increasingly authoritarian politics and aggressive foreign policy - without lecturing or accusing the Kremlin.
His words appeared to have a strong impact on the likely future leaders at the New Economic School.
Although Obama’s speech was not broadcast live on major TV networks, it appeared to speak powerfully to the hopes and fears of many of those who heard it in person. And it reached ordinary Russians through extensive news coverage throughout the day.
Several times, Obama made references that might sound like platitudes anywhere else - but which struck a powerful chord with Russians.
When the president warned that “a great power does not show strength by demonizing and dominating other countries,” the students instantly recognized the reference to Russia’s war last year with neighboring Georgia.
“I think we have to be more friendly and respectful toward our nearest neighbors,” said Diana Lachinova.
“There is the 20th-century view that the United States and Russia are destined to be antagonists, and that a strong Russia or a strong America can only assert themselves in opposition to one another,” he said. “And there is a 19th-century view that we are destined to vie for spheres of influence, and that great powers must forge competing blocs to balance one another. These assumptions are wrong.”
Political analyst Nikolai Petrov predicted that the speech “will be accepted very well, not only by this audience, which is not your average audience, but by Russians in general.”
Petrov said Obama pushed for Russian reform with diplomatic finesse. “It was done delicately, and at the same time pretty decisively.”
A Gallup poll conducted this spring showed that 34 percent of Russians disapproved of the Obama administration, while only 20 percent approved and 47 percent either weren’t sure or refused to answer.
By contrast, Obama has enjoyed adoring crowds in travels across Western Europe, where he is overwhelmingly popular.
On Saturday, anchorman Sergei Brylyov of the state-run Rossiya network noted that U.S. experts were calling on the Kremlin to give up what the West sees as its dreams of a restored empire. “In short, Russia needs to know its place,” Brylyov said, acidly.
But once the summit started, state-controlled media has provided relatively upbeat coverage.
Obama’s respectful approach seemed to earn the speech positive coverage on regular newscasts.
