Moreover, if Medvedev resigned to make way for Putin, the negative consequences would outweigh the positive. "It would hurt Medvedev's political fame among voters and set a bad example for Russia's political situation, which would also damage Putin's image," he said. Even if Medvedev did step down, his resignation would have to be approved by referendum. Wang added that, should Medvedev's proposals be approved, they would not take effect until the next presidential term.

In his speech, Medvedev also addressed the global financial crisis. He said the government would minimize its impact on the Russian economy, revive the banking sector and support individual economic sectors, such as protecting individual savings, pensions and social security. He stressed the importance of anti-corruption measures, including a system to evaluate how well government officials perform in their posts and to monitor their incomes. Wang said that Medvedev would enhance state ownership in such sectors as energy and other natural resources-another Putin policy.

Medvedev declared that Russia would deploy a missile base in the Kaliningrad to "neutralize, when necessary, the [U.S.] missile shield." He said that Russia faces such threats and challenges as "the construction of a global missile defense system, the surrounding of Russia with military bases, unrestrained NATO expansion and other 'gifts.'" The Kaliningrad region is on the Baltic coast, neighboring Poland in the south. Russia strongly objected to bilateral treaties the United States signed with Poland and the Czech Republic earlier this year that will place American missile defense components on their territories.

Wang said that as the United States waits for President-elect Barack Obama to take office, Medvedev released a clear message that if the United States continues to squeeze Russia, the latter may not respond solely through diplomatic means. "Russia is warning the next U.S. administration that it should seriously consider Russia's stance," Wang said.

He added that this message was also aimed at people in Poland and the Czech Republic. "Medvedev is reminding the two countries that their decisions come with a price," Wang said. "Since the signed agreements were only between Washington and the two governments, they will be invalidated if the two parliaments disapprove."