U.S. - Russian Missile Talks Off To A 'Sour' Start

President Vladimir Putin Photo Credit: ©RIA Novosti, Mikhail Klimentyev.

Magnitsky Fallout May Harm Missile Progress As U.S. Talks To Putin -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Hope that a shift in U.S. missile defense strategy will improve relations with Russia risks being undermined by a fresh flare-up over human rights when President Barack Obama's top security aide visits Moscow on Monday.

A change in U.S. plans for an anti-missile shield in Europe has cracked the door open for compromise on an issue that has badly strained relations between the nuclear-armed former Cold War foes.

But a big obstacle looms before White House national security adviser Tom Donilon even arrives.

President Barack Obama will give Congress on Friday a list of Russians to be barred from the United States for suspected involvement in human rights abuses including the 2009 death of whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow jail.

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More News On U.S. - Russian Relations Being Impacted On the ''Magnitsky List'

US risks wrath of Moscow with threat to officials on 'Magnitsky list' -- The Guardian
U.S. Penalizes Russians for Human Rights Violations -- New York Times
US Imposes Sanctions on 18 For Rights Abuses in Russia -- Voice of Russia
US names 18 blacklisted over dead Russian lawyer case -- AFP
Treasury Lists Russians Facing Sanctions on Human Rights -- Bloomberg
US publishes Magnitsky list of sanctioned Russians -- BBC
US identifies alleged Russian human-rights abusers targeted for sanctions -- Washington Post/AP
Obama wants no crisis with Moscow -Russian lawmaker -- Reuters
US publishes 18 names on Magnitsky list as Moscow warns of response -- RT
Magnitsky List Will Harm US-Russia Ties - Kremlin -- RIA Novosti
Russia vows to reciprocate US sanctions -- Voice of Russia

My Comment: The death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in a detention center is a crime that has stained Moscow .... but these sanctions are going to produce a response from the Kremlin .... starting with all future talks on missile reductions .... talks that like the U.S.-Russian reset .... will now be put on hold.