Handled with forbearance and firmness, relations with Russia should remain difficult but manageable. With NATO backing off, the European Union stepping in with its Eastern Partnership initiative to shift continuing competition in the post-Soviet space onto a less antagonistic footing, and President Barack Obama demonstrating his willingness to assuage Russia’s damaged pride, major confrontation should be avoidable.
只要用克制而坚定的手腕来处理，欧洲的对俄关系即使如何复杂，也不至于无法管理。有北约作后盾，欧盟携自己的“东部伙伴关系计划”（ Eastern Partnership initiative ）逐渐将在前苏联区域的持续敌我斗争关系转变成一些敌意没那么浓厚的进入行动，而美国总统奥巴马也表现出安抚俄罗斯被剥夺的尊严的迹象，因此在这个区域，大型的冲突将得以避免。