Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, has called McCain's proposals to resume nuclear weapons reductions talks with Russia “fully realistic”. Kosachev was quoted in the May 29th issue of the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestiya employing a sports metaphor: “Mr McCain can completely count on the fact that Russia will be ready to engage him in this match, if he assumes the US presidency”. He then mentions that it was during Republican administrations that some of the biggest diplomatic breakthroughs between Russia and America occured. Kosachev said that McCain's statement “has a realistic chance to be more than campaign rhetoric” and added that “the latest statement is in evident contrast” to McCain's “previous escapades” regarding throwing Russia out of the G8.
