He was a big-time political operator. After he was pushed out of the country, his influence has dwindled.

There is clearly a policy shift underway. We're talking about a bad trend; not just a cooling but a deterioration in relations.

Polls show the attitude of Russians toward Ukraine has deteriorated lately. So, people might easily believe that Ukrainians want to do them harm.

The goal of Kremlin strategists appears to be a weak coalition government in Ukraine that will be more vulnerable to Russian economic pressure. One twin is looking to Moscow, the other to Washington. And they can't separate.

(Motherland's policies) are very, very popular with the Russian people.

Those were the days in this country where H. G. Wells, Bernard Shaw and Conan Doyle could have influence, and that's gone, that's true. But I don't think we have less influence in the hearts and minds of readers. I think, if anything, we have just as much, if not more.