Putin Responds to Obama's Missile Defense Letter - East Idaho News
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Putin Responds to Obama’s Missile Defense Letter

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Getty 052313 VladimirPutin?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1369339938911Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images(LONDON) — A top Kremlin aide, Nikolai Patrushev, who is in Washington this week, is carrying a letter from President Vladimir Putin to President Obama, according to the Russian Embassy in D.C.

In a statement on its website, the embassy did not disclose the contents of the letter, but Russian officials said last week it would respond to Obama’s letter from a month ago discussing missile defense, among other things.

This is all in preparation for the Obama-Putin meeting next month on the sidelines of the G8 summit. Both sides have been trying to come to an agreement on American-led plans to install a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. NATO insists it’s meant to counter a threat from Iran. Russia says it degrades their own nuclear deterrent capabilities.

Patrushev is also expected to meet with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns.

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