Former CIA Spies Are Puzzled By Russia's Unprecedented Treatment Of The CIA Moscow Chief

Accused American spy Ryan Fogle, following his detention in Moscow. © Photo Russian Federal Security Service

‘Unprecedented’ CIA Moscow Chief Leak Puzzles Ex-Spies -- RIA Novosti

WASHINGTON, May 17 (By Carl Schreck for RIA Novosti) – Russia’s decision to publicly identify a purported top US spy in the country is an “unprecedented” move in relations between Moscow and Washington with no clear indication of how the United States will react, former US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers and security experts told RIA Novosti on Friday.

“Certainly throughout the Cold War, and even after that, there was a practice of not naming the head of the [spy agencies] in the respective countries,” said Peter Earnest, who operated intelligence collection and covert operations in Europe and the Middle East during a 35-year career with the CIA.

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My Comment: What is there to be puzzled about .... the Russians are sending a message to the U.S. because they know that the U.S. is not going to retaliate. In short .... they are going out of their way to humiliate the U.S., and they are making a point of advertising what they are doing to the rest of the world.

CIA Spy Arrested In Moscow Outed As The CIA Station Chief In Russia

 

Russia Reveals Identity Of CIA Moscow Chief Following Ryan Fogle's Expulsion -- The Guardian  

Federal Security Service spokesman breaches protocol as he accuses US agency of crossing 'red line' in its recruitment efforts. The Federal Security Service in Russia has revealed the identity of the CIA's station chief in Moscow in a breach of protocol. The revelation, made by an FSB spokesman who accused the US agency of crossing a "red line" in its attempt to recruit turncoats among Russian spy agencies, will up the ante in the unfolding spy scandal that emerged earlier this week when Russia detained and expelled an alleged CIA agent working undercover as third secretary at the US embassy in Moscow. Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor, have taken pains to say they believe the scandal will blow over quickly.   Read more ....

More News On Russia Revealing Who Is The CIA Station Chief In Moscow  

Russian secret service publicly reveals identity of the ‘CIA station chief’ in Moscow following capture of US ‘spy’ -- Daily Mail Russia Outs Alleged Moscow CIA Station Chief -- RIA Novosti Russian secret service publicly reveals identity of the ‘CIA station chief’ in Moscow following capture of US ‘spy’ -- Daily Mail Russia's FSB reveals identity of CIA Moscow station chief -- The Telegraph FSB: CIA crossed ‘red line’ with agent Fogle -- RT The Spy Scandal In Moscow: Nothing To See Here -- Mark Adomanis, Forbes Russian spies still seek to humiliate the West -- Ben Macintyre, The Australian/The Times

Has Russia Made A Fool Of U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry (Again)?

Russia Makes A Fool of Kerry (Again) -- Jonathan S. Tobin, Commentary

The report this morning on the front page of the New York Times that Russia is sending a new batch of advanced arms to Syria is very bad news for those who hoped international isolation would lead to the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime. Despite constant predictions over the past two years from President Obama and others in the West that it was only a matter of time before this evil dictator would be forced out, Assad is holding his own. The rebels have not only failed to push him out of Damascus but, if recent accounts of the fighting there are true, they have lost ground as the regime has rolled back the tide of unrest all across the country. Though the rebellion may have fractured the country, as a separate front-page story in the Times testifies, with Iran and its Hezbollah auxiliaries doubling down on their backing for Assad on the ground and emboldened by Russia’s diplomatic support as well as its efforts to resupply the regime’s military, it’s hard to see why anyone would think the dictator is going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

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My Comment: As this blog predicted .... today's announcement of more Russian weapons to the Syrian regime puts a nail to any hope that Russia will pressure the Assad regime to search for a compromise. On the contrary .... Assad and his followers are now embolden, and the war continues.

So much for U.S. hopes and diplomacy that they and the Russians were on the same page on Syria contrary to what critics (like yours truly) were saying. My message to U.S. Secretary of State Kerry is now simple .... fool me once .... shame on you. Fool me twice .... shame on me. The Russians have just fooled you twice.

Update: Why Russia won't cut Syria loose -- Peter Fragiskatos, Special to CNN

Russia's CIA Spy Bust 'Was Linked To Boston Bombing'

Russia's CIA Spy Bust 'Was Linked To Boston Bombing': U.S Diplomat Was Trying To Recruit Dagestan Expert Who Travelled To Terrorist’s Home Town When He Was Arrested -- Daily Mail

* U.S. diplomat named as Ryan Christopher Fogle was arrested on Monday
* Russia claim he was attempting to recruit a Russian secret services official
* Letter allegedly found on him offers agents $1million per year to defect
* U.S. ambassador summoned to Russian foreign ministry to explain today

The arrest of a US diplomat accused of being a CIA spy was linked to the Boston bombing, sources revealed today.

Russian security officials reported on Tuesday that they had briefly detained Ryan Fogle in Moscow for allegedly trying to recruit a Russian intelligence officer.

Today sources revealed the man Mr Fogle was trying to ‘recruit’ was an FSB agent who specialised in Islamic extremism in Russia and may even have travelled to the region where the bombing suspects came from.

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More News And Analysis On The Russian CIA Spy Bust Being Linked To The Boston Bombing

Wig-wearing 'CIA spy' in Russia 'was investigating Boston bombings' -- The Telegraph
‘Wigged CIA spy’ Ryan C. Fogle was reportedly seeking information on Boston bombings -- The Raw Story/AFP
Was US diplomat Ryan Fogle seeking info on Boston suspects? -- Zee News
'CIA agent' in Russia sought Boston info: report -- iol News
Russia calls 'spy' case provocation, but Boston fallout could be factor -- CNN

My Comment: If these reports are true, it reveals a lack of trust between the U.S. and Russia in sharing intel on suspected terrorists and terror organizations.

Russia Summons U.S. Ambassador To Face Spy Claims

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Russia Complains to US Ambassador Over Alleged Spy -- RIA Novosti

Updated with new headline and the Foreign Ministry's formal protest.

MOSCOW, May 15 (RIA Novosti) – Russia has lodged an official protest with the US ambassador over an embassy official who Russia says is an undercover CIA officer.

US Ambassador Michael McFaul visited the Foreign Ministry in downtown Moscow on Wednesday morning, having been summoned the day before amid reports that a US diplomat suspected of trying to recruit a Russian security services agent had been detained.

McFaul appeared calm as he got out of the car, and smiled at the reporters waiting outside as he walked to the entrance of the ministry’s vast building. According to information obtained by RIA Novosti, McFaul was received by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

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Previous Post: CIA Agent Humiliated In Moscow After Being Arrested For Spying

More News On The U.S. - Russia Spy Case

US ambassador summoned to Russian foreign ministry to face spy claims -- The Guardian
Russia summons US ambassador amid CIA spying claims -- FOX News/AP
Moscow holds talks with US ambassador over spy scandal -- BBC
Russia Ousts US Official Accused of Undercover CIA Spying -- Bloomberg Businessweek
U.S. Diplomat Ordered to Leave Russia in Spy Case -- Time/AP
Russian media delight in U.S. spy case as leaders try to limit fallout -- Reuters
Ex-Soviet Intelligence Officer Calls CIA Spy Case 'Badly Staged Comedy' -- Radio Free Europe
Kremlin Regrets US Spy Scandal -- Voice of America
Russia and US play down spy scandal -- Gulf News/AFP
A look at how Russia, US still spy on each other -- AP
Russia calls 'spy' case provocation, but Boston fallout could be factor -- CNN
Spy scandal in Moscow evokes an earlier era -- Tara McKelvey BBC News Magazine
Spy capture or sleuth setup? Detention of alleged U.S. spy in Russia raises questions -- CBS
The Cold War may be over, but spying continues: A look at espionage cases between Russia, US -- Washington Post/AP
Timeline: America and Russia’s Long History of Espionage -- RIA Novosti

My Comment: Regular readers of this blog know that my nationality is Russian .... and I am always monitoring Russian news reports. As to this story .... i is true that the Russian media is having a field day with this story.

Do CIA Agents Use Gmail?

Russia Busts CIA ‘Spy’ And His Gmail -- Danger Room

Officially, Ryan Christopher Fogle worked as a junior diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. According to Moscow, he’s a spy working for the CIA. If so, he screwed up in the worst possible way.

Fogle was detained overnight by Russia’s Federal Security Service (or FSB), the present-day successor to the KGB, and is accused of attempting to recruit a Russian agent to spy for Washington. Photographs quickly circulated of Fogle in custody, along with a disguise and gear — including two wigs, sunglasses, a knife and cell phone, a map of Moscow, a microphone, and an aluminum RFID shield. He was also apparently carrying stacks of €500 bank notes.

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My Comment: GMail is not that secure .... as this former CIA Director quickly learned.

Update: While researching this story I found the following interesting story about email and how spies use it.

CIA Agent Humiliated In Moscow After Being Arrested For Spying

 

Cloak, Dagger And A Blond Wig? FSB Says CIA Agent Nabbed In Moscow (VIDEO, PHOTOS) -- RT 

Promises of millions, a new face and detailed instructions on a double-agent conspiracy in Moscow.

Bearing the hallmarks of a Cold War spy thriller, Russia’s counterintelligence agency says it caught a CIA officer trying to flip a Russian operative.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) Public Relations Center announced that detained individual was Ryan Christopher Fogle, a career diplomat working as the third secretary of the Political Section of the American embassy in Moscow.

The agency stressed that Christopher had “special technical equipment” in his possession, including an additional wig, a microphone, multiple pairs of dark sunglasses and a lot of cash in euro – along with a Moscow atlas, a compass, two knives, and an American Bic lighter.

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More News On The Capture And Expulsion Of A CIA Agent In Moscow  

Russia to expel 'CIA agent' in spy recruitment scandal -- BBC
Russia expels U.S. diplomat for alleged spying -- USA Today
Russian FSB will expel US diplomat accused of working for CIA -- FOX News/AP
Ryan C. Fogle, U.S. diplomat accused of spying, ordered to leave Russia -- Washington Post
Russia Detains American, Saying He Is C.I.A. Officer -- New York Times
Russia to Expel U.S. Diplomat -- Wall Street Journal
'Spirit of the Cold War': Russia accuses US diplomat of working for CIA -- NBC
Russia spy agency claims CIA agent arrested for trying to recruit Russian agent in Moscow -- CBS
CIA Spy Caught in Recruitment Sting, Russia Says -- Bloomberg
Russia orders expulsion of U.S. diplomat accused of being CIA agent -- CNN
Russia says CIA agent caught trying to recruit spy -- Reuters
Here’s the spy recruitment letter allegedly found on CIA agent in Moscow -- Washington Post
Photos, video of alleged American CIA spy’s arrest in Moscow -- Washington Post  

My Comment: Russia's FSB is laughing at the CIA.

Pentagon Plans To Share Missile Secrets With Russia

Photo: Vice Adm. James Syring, director of the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

Open Secrets -- Washington Free Beacon

Pentagon plans to share missile secrets with Russia opposed by Republicans.

The Pentagon held internal talks on declassifying sensitive missile defense technology that it plans to share with Russia as part of the Obama administration’s efforts to assuage Moscow’s opposition to European defenses.

Republicans in both the House and Senate plan to block any technology declassification for missile defense technology in the current defense authorization bill and other legislation. Legislative mark up on the authorization bill begins this week.

Critics say giving Russia classified data would undermine the effectiveness of missile defenses, which have cost taxpayers more than $100 billion since the 1980s.

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My Comment: Washington and the Pentagon scream about Chinese hackers .... and here they are giving away the store.Words escape me.

Mixed Signals From Russia On Syria

US Balks As Russia Prepares To Deliver Missiles To Syria -- Christian Science Monitor

Israel says Russia is preparing to deliver anti-aircraft missiles and launchers to the Assad regime, which the US warns will further destabilize a troubled region.

The United States has appealed to Russia to stop the reported delivery of six batteries of advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to the Syrian government, warning that this type of weaponry threatens to "destabilize" the region.

According to media reports, the US was alerted this week by Israel that Russia is preparing to begin deliveries, perhaps as early as this summer, on a $900-million contract for six S-300 launchers with 144 of the long-range surface-to-air missiles. They are said to be the equivalent to the US Patriot system.

"We have consistently called on Russia not to provide a further supply of weapons to the Assad regime, including air defense systems that are particularly destabilizing to the region," White House press spokesman Jay Carney told journalists on Thursday.

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My Comment: On the one hand reports are coming out that Rusia will NOT sell anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. See here and here. On the other hand, reports are saying that Russia WILL sell anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. See here and here.

What's my take .... Putin will not abandon his ally Syrian President Assad. These anti-aircraft missiles will be delivered. As to the Syrian peace conference that was hailed by US Secretary of State John Kerry only a few days ago .... the Russians are already pouring cold water on it.

Russia's President Putin Keeps US Secretary Of State John Kerry Waiting For THREE HOURS

Putin Keeps John Kerry Waiting For THREE HOURS During His Visit To Russia For Meetings Over Syria As Relationship Between The U.S. And Russia Remains Frosty -- Daily Mail

* Secretary of State's visit to Moscow comes as U.S. tries to gather international support for action against Assad regime in Syria
* Russia has been reluctant to commit to taking action

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was looking to strengthen ties with Russia as he tries to put an end to the dictatorial regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, but instead he was met with the coldest of receptions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin kept Kerry waiting three hours before their meeting at the Kremlin on Tuesday and continuously fiddled with his pen as the top American diplomat spoke about the ongoing crisis in Syria.

Kerry’s visit to Moscow comes as he seeks Russian help in ending Syria's civil, telling President Putin that common interest in a stable Middle East could bridge divisions among the big powers.

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My Comment: Putin has a long history of keeping people waiting sometimes even longer than three hours .... especially to those that he is not close to. But for his friends .... he has always shown up first.

Russia And The U.S. Agree To Convene A Syrian Peace Conference

Russia And US Agree To Hold Syria Conference -- BBC

Russia and the US have agreed to work towards holding an international conference to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of State John Kerry announced it would follow on from an Action Group for Syria meeting in Geneva last June.

Mr Kerry said they would try to "bring both sides to the table".

Relations between Moscow and Washington have been strained in the last two years by differences over Syria.

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More News On The U.S. - Russian Agreement To Hold A Syrian Conference To End The Civil War

U.S., Russia push for rapid talks to end Syria carnage -- Reuters
US, Russia to call conference this month in effort to revive Syria peace strategy -- Washington Post/AP
U.S., Russia pledge to work together for a Syrian transitional government -- Washington Post
Russia, U.S. call for Syria conference with both sides -- Haaretz/Reuters
Russia and US agree to hold Syrian peace conference -- The Independent
Russia, U.S. to convene Syria peace conference -- Reuters
Russia, US agree push for peace in Syria -- The Australian
Kerry urges Russian cooperation on Syria -- Al Jazeera
Russia, US Want Talks Between Syrian Govt, Opposition -- RIA Novosti

Presidents Obama And Putin Discuss The Boston Marathon Bombing

Photo: Reuters

Obama, Putin Discuss Boston Bombing on Phone -- RIA Novosti

WASHINGTON, April 29 (RIA Novosti) – US President Barack Obama told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone call Monday that he appreciates Russia’s assistance in the investigation of the deadly Boston Marathon attack earlier this month, the White House said in a statement.

During the call, Obama reiterated “his appreciation for the close cooperation that the United States has received from Russia” concerning the attack, in which two men with ties to Russia’s restive North Caucasus region are suspected of detonating two bombs that killed three people and wounded more than 250 near the finish line of the race, the White House said.

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More News On U.S. - Russian Anti-Terrorism Cooperation

Putin, Obama discuss intensifying anti-terrorism cooperation -- Washington Post/AP
Putin, Obama speak again amid probe into Tamerlan Tsarnaev -- Christian Science Monitor
Obama thanks Russia for bombing help, while top Republicans question helpfulness -- FOX News
Kremlin says Putin, Obama agree security contacts after Boston -- Reuters
After Boston Bombing, American Ties With Russia Improve -- New York Times
On Boston Marathon Bombing, Russia's Putin Has Regrets -- Forbes

Obama And Putin Discuss Syria

Obama, Putin Discuss Syria And Claims That It Used Chemical Weapons -- McClatchy News

WASHINGTON — Even as the White House said it still lacked proof that Syria unleashed chemical weapons against its people, President Barack Obama on Monday raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to reach out one of Syria’s key allies.

In a telephone call between the two leaders on a range of topics, Obama brought up the Syrian conflict, “underscoring concern over Syrian chemical weapons,” administration officials said in a statement.

The administration has long been frustrated with Russian resistance to U.S. efforts to tighten sanctions against Syria, but it said that Obama and Putin had agreed to stay in “close consultation,” and that Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would continue the discussions.

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More News On Presidents Putin And Obama Discussing Syria

Obama stresses Syria chemical weapons worries in call with Putin -- Reuters
Obama voices Syria chemical weapons concern to Putin -- BBC
Obama tells Putin of Syria weapons concern -- The Australian
Obama, Putin Discuss Syria Chemical Weapons Reports -- RTT
Obama, Putin discuss Syria, agree to meet in Russia -- Xinhuanet

My Comment: I know that the White House is hoping that by discussing the Syrian crisis with world leaders it may (eventually) result in a consensus on what should be done next .... but the Syrian civil war is now completely out of control .... and lets face facts .... no one is interested in negotiating a "peaceful" resolution to the conflict. And as for the U.S. "red line" on using chemical weapons .... everyone now knows that there is no U.S. commitment to enforce that position .... hence .... what little leverage the U.S. had before is now gone.

Putin Calls For US-Russia Intelligence Sharing

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes questions as part of a live broadcast in Moscow, April 25, 2013.

After Boston Bombings, Putin Calls For US-Russia Intelligence Sharing -- Voice of America

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has often complained that he battles alone against terrorism by Islamic extremists.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Washington and Moscow Thursday to share security information to fight terrorism.

Putin said the need for unity was illustrated by the Boston bombings, which U.S. law enforcement authorities say were carried about by ethnic Chechens on American soil.

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My Comment: This call for cooperation is not going to work. Russia focuses on Islamic extremism as the cause of terrorism .... the U.S. does not even want to use that term. How can both countries work together when they cannot even agree on what is the cause and motivations behind most of the terrorism in the world.

U.S. And Russia Both Failed In Stopping The Boston Marathon Bombers

US, Russia Missed Chances To Intercept Tamerlan Tsarnaev -- Christian Science Monitor

Russia warned the US about the future Boston Marathon bomber back in 2011. But when Mr. Tsarnaev returned to Russia the next year, authorities there apparently left him alone.

The revelation that the main suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings were two Russian citizens of half-Chechen, half-Avar (Dagestani) ethnicity, has prompted Kremlin leaders to dust off a longstanding argument that the US should listen to Moscow's warnings about extreme Islamist terrorists, whether they hail from Chechnya, or Syria, or anywhere else.

The Russians say the US should turn away from its current path of criticizing Russia on human rights issues and embrace greater anti-terrorist cooperation in the name of common civilizational values.

That pitch was made explicitly by President Vladimir Putin in a Saturday telephone conversation with Barack Obama. A brief statement posted on the Kremlin website noted that "both sides emphasized their interest in increasing coordination between Russian and American intelligence services in the fight against international terrorism."

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My Comment: I expect even more "revelations" to become known in the days and weeks to come. Bottom line .... I suspect that there is more to this story than what they are telling us .... and both Russia and the U.S. are now positioning themselves to minimize any negative consequences.

Russia Warned U.S. Of Chechen Islamic Radicals

Members of armed Chechen groups who in August 1996 took part in fighting against federal forces in Grozny. (RIA Novosti)

Boston Bombings: A Chance For U.S.-Russia Cooperation -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin may have been tempted to tell U.S. President Barack Obama "I told you so" when U.S. officials blamed two ethnic Chechens for the Boston Marathon bombings.

He has long said the United States underestimates the security threat posed by Islamist militants in Russia's volatile North Caucasus, and has rejected criticism that Moscow's use of force in the region has been heavy-handed.

But the Kremlin leader has kept silent in public since Tamerlan Tsarnaev died after a shootout with police, and his younger brother, Dzhokhar, was captured after a manhunt in a Boston suburb. Both are ethnic Chechens who had been living in the United States.

Instead, he and Obama made positive statements about cooperation on counterterrorism in a phone conversation on Friday, suggesting both sides see an opportunity to improve strained relations between their countries.

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My Comment: Putin through his spokesperson(s) is saying .... "I told you so" .... and is tying the Boston Marathon bombings to the rise of radical Islamic groups in the Caucasus AND in the Syrian rebel movement. But is the White House/politicians/media/public listening .... I doubt it. But I now do expect greater U.S. - Russian intelligence cooperation on this growing problem.

Update #1: Russia warned US of Chechen immigrants -- RT
Update #2: Obama thanks Putin for help in Boston -- The Cable/Foreign Policy

President Obama And Russian President Putin Talk About Boston

Obama, Putin Speak About Boston Situation -- Voice of America

WHITE HOUSE — As President Barack Obama closely monitored developments in Boston, Massachusetts, he discussed events with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A White House statement said that in the conversation with Obama, Putin expressed his condolences on behalf of the Russian people for the tragic loss of life in Boston.

Obama "thanked President Putin for those sentiments, and praised the close cooperation that the United States has received from Russia on counterterrorism, including in the wake of the Boston attack."

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More News On Presidents Obama And Putin Discussing The Boston Situation

Obama, after Boston bombing, thanks Putin for Russian cooperation -- Reuters
Obama thanks Putin for help in Boston -- The Cable
Obama talks to Putin about Boston manhunt -- L.A. Times
Obama, Putin discuss Boston Marathon attacks -- Seattle Times/AP
Obama talks with Putin, huddles with aides to monitor Boston manhunt -- MSNBC
Boston Marathon blasts: Obama thanks Putin for Russian cooperation -- IBN Live
President Obama receives condolences from Russian President Vladimir Putin for Boston bombing -- New York Daily News

Russia Says Talks With The U.S. Produced No Progress On Missile Defense

Russia Says U.S. Talks Produced No Progress On Missiles -- Reuters

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russia and the United States remain at odds over U.S. plans for an anti-missile shield in Europe following talks in Moscow this week with President Barack Obama's national security adviser, a senior aide to President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

White House national security adviser Tom Donilon met Putin and senior Russian officials in the highest-level face-to-face talks since Obama began a new term in January at a time of tense relations with Moscow.

"There is no progress on missile defense," Putin's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said, according to news agency RIA.

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My Comment: President Obama is to meet President Putin at the G8 summit in June. My prediction is that it is then that some progress will be made.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister: US Missile Shield No Threat to Russia

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. © RIA Novosti. Sergei Guneev

US Missile Shield No Threat to Russia - Deputy PM -- RIA Novosti

LONDON, April 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia’s strategic forces are capable of penetrating the US missile shield and it poses no military threat to the country, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday.

“We have solved the issue of penetrating the missile shield. We regret that the United States waste their money on missile defense and compel us to do the same. The missile shield is nothing for us, it’s a bluff. It poses no military threat, but remains a political and economic problem,” Rogozin said during his speech at the Russian embassy in London.

He said that most of Russia’s criticism is caused by the fact that the planned missile shield is “provocative” and “excessive by nature” and thus forces other countries to boost their strategic defenses.

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My Comment: A rare admission from Russia .... especially since they have pointed to US missile defense as an obstacle for further talks on arms agreements.

A U.S. - Russian Summit?

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and U.S. President Barack Obama during a June 2012 meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico. Radio Free Europe

Obama To Meet With Putin In Russia In September - White House -- Reuters

Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September when he travels to Russia for the G20 summit, the White House said on Monday.

The United States is pressing Russia to use its influence to help reduce tensions with North Korea. Washington and Moscow are also at odds over the civil war in Syria.

The announcement of the September meeting came after Obama's national security adviser Tom Donilon held discussions with Putin and other leaders during a trip to Russia.

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More News On U.S. - Russian Relations

Putin, Obama To Meet At June G8 Summit -- Radio Free Europe
Looking Beyond Magnitsky Lists, Kremlin Eyes Putin-Obama Meetings -- Voice of America
US and Russia take tentative positive step amid blacklist battle -- Christian Science Monitor
Russian foreign minister says Obama administration signals readiness to ease tensions in ties -- Washington Post/AP
White House: ‘Constructive’ talks with Russia’s Putin despite tensions -- Washington Times
Obama sends 'constructive' message to Putin amid tensions -- AFP
US National Security Advisor meets with Russian Leaders -- Digital Journal

My Comment: It appears that U.S. National Security Adviser Tom Donilon .... visiting Moscow right now .... gave the Russians something that made them decide to have a Obama-Putin meeting at the G-8 this June .... and a more formal meeting in Moscow in September. It makes you wonder what the U.S. is offering. Missile defense? Nuclear arms reductions? I guess we will have to wait till September.