This is the fifth in an eight-part series on Russia.
Many analysts say they have deteriorated in the past few years.
During the days of the cold war, Moscow shared the international spotlight with Washington. But this is no longer the case. And that has created a lot of resentment in many parts of Russia. Former U-S National Security Adviser General Brent Scowcroft says during the recent Kosovo crisis, the West did not use Moscow's traditional ties with Serbia in an effective way. We do not mean to do it.