Dreams vs. Reality

Highlights the contrast between Yeltsin's desire for stability and the unforeseen reality post-Soviet Union.

And Yeltsin said at the time, I want us to be a normal country. We want a normal economy, Mr. Sachs. We want a normal democratic political system. We want to be friends with the United States. And I, in my naivete, said to him, President Yeltsin, I can assure you the American people will want to partner with Russia to have a future of peace and economic cooperation. And I was completely convinced of it. I thought this is the most historic moment imaginable. I was pinching myself, can you believe you're sitting in the Kremlin hearing from the president of Russia, the end of the Soviet Union? And I had that blessing. It was unbelievable. I was wrong.