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GUEST: David Kotz, Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and coauthor of “Russia’s Path from Gorbachev to Putin: The Demise of the Soviet System and the New Russia.”

Earlier this week Russia announced its decision to withdraw unilaterally from the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, angering the US and other NATO nations. The CFE was signed in 1990 and puts clear limits on the stationing of troops and heavy weapons from the Atlantic coast to Russia’s Ural mountains. The signing of the CFE was seen as an important step in ending the Cold War. Russian President Vladimir Putin justified the suspension saying that NATO countries have not ratified a revised version of the treaty. Meanwhile, Vladmir Putin endorsed his longtime aide, Dmitry Medvedev to succeed him as President in the upcoming elections. According to an article in the Russian newspaper, Pravda, “Medvedev is one of Putin’s closest men. He is known for his absolute loyalty and even psychological dependence on the president.” Medvedev has announced his plans to welcome Putin back in the role of a powerful prime minister.