BBC News Updated every minute of every day

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:39 GMT 21:39 UK

This sounds to be Mr Obama's real attempt to pave the way to reset relations between US and Russia, and he seems to be on the verge of success. Now, we shall see if they can agree about most critical issues like Tehran's nuclear program, or North Korea's case.
Still, one thing is for sure: conflicts of nearly 2 decades won't be wiped out over night. But Obama's "Change" sounds promising.

Mahdi_183, Tehran

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:38 GMT 21:38 UK

Wouldn't it be nice?

Imagine what could be achieved if US and Russia worked together.

Tim, Uk

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:33 GMT 21:33 UK

After so many new dawns, one more can't hurt. At least we'll see it.

Tony Jackson, Welling

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:28 GMT 21:28 UK

Obama is working for betterment for entire human beings not only americans[sic]...

Rohit Raj India

That's not his damn job Rohit. We (and by "We" I mean the rubes who voted for him) elected him President of the USA, not worldwide demigod.

Why is it critical that we cozy up to everyone regardless of what vile regime they run? I am sick of trying to cure every ungrateful, resentful, sneering. backward basket case's problems while ours get ignored and worsened.

"india" can have him.

Bill Grant, New York, United States

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:23 GMT 21:23 UK

VAST reductios would be accomplished with anti-ballistics and Putin obviously knows it. Obama also denounces defense while Hawaii is under increasing threat.

But the western world of little droids programmed for their own demise are told to believe, ironically, in touchy feely huggie emotion which Obama-media amply supplies them with.

A peace forged of sudden irrational 'trust' won't live long.
Cold logical technology could have rendered dangerously useful idiots inert. Too tragic.

Logic forgives stupidity, USA

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:20 GMT 21:20 UK

What a welter of negative comments. I remember nights in a bomb shelter in the NE of England. I remember Korea, Viet Nam and so on. I keenly remember Kennedy calling Kruschev's bluff.
Seems to me that Obama is speaking words that are worth listening to and that should be taken at face value. They should not be knocked down for the sake of it.
When I grew up Britain stopped to listen to the President of the United States. He is the first President since about whom I would say "stop - listen"

[wewantout], Edzell Woods, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:17 GMT 21:17 UK

Absalutni nyet tvarich! Did you see the photo on the front of The Times today? A hearty Obama shaking stony faced Medvedev's hand. Obama facing Medvedev and smiling. Medvedev reaching out at ninety degrees to his body, firmly facing forward and smiling not at all: no attempt to look at and connect with Obama.

Rearrange this well know phrase or saying: square one back to!

Duncan Williamson, Halifax, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:16 GMT 21:16 UK

Russia with economy smaller than Italy's wants to sit at the same table as America. Russia is trying to prevent the West from entering its sphere of influence and wants a monopoly on the use of force in the former Soviet Union.

Jan Kowalyk, Mississauga

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:07 GMT 21:07 UK

The past few years have shown an arrogance from the US that has alienated all its old friends and forced Russia to become defensive. America has to realize that strength does no automatically mean being right, no more than the American idea is sough by other nations. The world welcomes working with the US, but not being ruled by it. Obamas words indicate he may understand this, we have yet to see if he can resist the temptation to enforce rather than participate.

john stevenson, cairns australia

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:03 GMT 21:03 UK

What is it with all the obama haters. "Appeasement," "weakness," "he's not the messiah" and so on.

Blimey, guess your a republican then? What a load of tosh.

Sure, there are still fair too many nukes about. But getting rid of some is a step in the right direction. This needs to be pressed more, we dont need Trident if we wanna get rid of them.

Jason Duffield, Bath

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:03 GMT 21:03 UK

yes.......... i think that there will be more good will in between both countries

jason watson todd, spain ibiza

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 20:00 GMT 21:00 UK

Sorry, but nuclear arms beats economics any day, and not in the good way. People survive an economic breakdown. Hard to survive when a nuke goes off near you. So everyone else may become an economic superpower, but as long as there are nuclear warheads in waiting, economic power means exactly nothing.

Jon, La Grande, Oregon

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 19:59 GMT 20:59 UK

Stil Obama is telling Russia how to behave. He is trying to impose democracy on Russia.
And what is democracy anyway? it means imposing the rules from the majority, on the minority!
If 6 out of 10 people say this is right, than that becomes the standard. and mayby even law.......

And the majority is not always right!!!!

He stil feels the US is better then Russia.

In this way there is stil no real progress.

Edmond van Westen, Amsterdam

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 19:56 GMT 20:56 UK

Not so fast! 7 yrs is a long time after all and much could occur to derail it all in the interim. Besides, 1500 nukes each still leaves the power to destroy the world so what's the big deal? All of which has led lead some to see the 'big deal' as a rabbit perennially pulled out of the hat whenever the U.S. and Russia both just happen to need some sort of boost for their not-necessarily-popular domestic programs. Though that may not yet be entirely apparent, it likely will be soon.

Jim Anglin, Paris

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 19:52 GMT 20:52 UK

It is indeed a positive move by a US President to engage in dialogue with his Russian counterpart on reducing the stockpiles of nuclear weapons. The move sends a message across the world that the high priority on retaining nuclear weapons has slowly come down. World powers and other developing countries should focus on humanitarian aspects instead of boosting the defense spending, especially at a time when millions are struggling for basic requirements such as water, food and shelter.

Ramachandran Nair, Oman