US-Russia reset on 'pause': US general: A "reset" in US-Russia relations is now on pause and Moscow likely will be "the primary actor of regional concern," the American general nominated to take over as NATO commander said Thursday.
General Philip Breedlove, President Barack Obama's pick to serve as NATO's next supreme allied commander, described Russia as an "aspirational superpower" and told lawmakers an attempt to forge more cooperative ties with Moscow had faltered for the moment.
"I've described the reset as sort of, on pause," Breedlove told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"We had made some progress. There were some political changes in Russia and we are now sort of very much slowed down."
In comments that were sure to produce irritation in Moscow, he said the United States needed to renew efforts to improve relations but said it had to be a mutually beneficial arrangement.
