Chilly welcome awaits Obama in Russia

By Michael Stott

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kremlin chief Dmitry Medvedev has promised U.S. President Barack Obama "the warmest time" when he visits Moscow this week but cold grey skies, a low-key welcome and a sceptical public are more likely.

In contrast to the "Obamamania" which has greeted the U.S. leader on other foreign tours, Russia has played down the visit, reflecting the prickly nature of relations between the two Cold War superpowers and Kremlin unease at Obama's popularity.

The unseasonably chilly, damp streets of central Moscow carried no flags, posters or banners announcing the visit or greeting Obama on Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the U.S. leader was due to arrive.

Street adverts posted by the Moscow town hall instead promoted a July 8 festival of "family, love and fidelity" and an opinion poll before the visit showed that only eight percent of Russians thought relations with the U.S. were friendly.

State-controlled television -- the main source of news for most Russians -- has barely mentioned Obama's visit, aside from screening a Obama interview where the U.S. leader said he would treat Russia as an equal and respect its leaders.

The mood contrasts with what Medvedev promised after meeting Obama for the first time in London in April.

"July is the warmest time in Russia and in Moscow and I believe that will be exactly the feature of the talks and relations we are going to enjoy during that period in Moscow," the Russian leader said.

INDIFFERENCE