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Obama lauds Putin at Russia talks Obama lauds Putin at Russia talks
(20 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has praised Russian PM Vladimir Putin at talks outside Moscow, saying there was an excellent chance to improve ties.US President Barack Obama has praised Russian PM Vladimir Putin at talks outside Moscow, saying there was an excellent chance to improve ties.
Mr Obama's meeting with the man widely regarded as the most powerful in Russia is taking place on the second day of the American leader's visit to Moscow.Mr Obama's meeting with the man widely regarded as the most powerful in Russia is taking place on the second day of the American leader's visit to Moscow.
At the pair's first meeting, Mr Obama praised Mr Putin for his "extraordinary work" as both PM and president. Mr Obama praised Mr Putin for his "extraordinary work" as president and PM as the pair met for the first time.
Mr Putin said improvement of relations were "linked" to Mr Obama's role.Mr Putin said improvement of relations were "linked" to Mr Obama's role.
Afghan dealAfghan deal
The breakfast meeting was held at Mr Putin's dacha outside the capital.The breakfast meeting was held at Mr Putin's dacha outside the capital.
Mr Obama said: "I am aware of not only the extraordinary work that you've done on behalf of the Russian people in your previous role as prime minis-, uh, as president, but in your current role as prime minister."Mr Obama said: "I am aware of not only the extraordinary work that you've done on behalf of the Russian people in your previous role as prime minis-, uh, as president, but in your current role as prime minister."
CHARM OFFENSIVE Richard Galpin, Moscow
In unusually blunt comments last week Mr Obama described Mr Putin as a man with a cold war mentality who still had one foot in the past.
It provoked the usual sharp response from Mr Putin's office.
The fact that Mr Obama is meeting the prime minister - ostensibly to discuss economic issues - is a reflection of the power Mr Putin still holds.
Many believe he remains the most powerful politician in the country, making the vast majority of all the important decisions.
So if the US president really wants to ensure the relationship between Washington and Moscow is on the mend, he needs to include Mr Putin in his charm offensive.
Mr Putin said: "We link hopes for development of our relationship with your name."Mr Putin said: "We link hopes for development of our relationship with your name."
US-RUSSIA NUCLEAR DEAL Each country to cut deployed nuclear warheads to 1,500-1,675 (currently 1,700-2,200)Delivery systems to be within 500-1,000 range (currently 1,600)Reductions so be achieved within seven years of new treatyTreaty to be signed before Start I expires in December and include "effective" verification measures See graph of US and Russian nuclear weapon stockpiles
Last week, Mr Obama said he thought the former Russian president turned prime minister had "one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new".Last week, Mr Obama said he thought the former Russian president turned prime minister had "one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new".
The BBC's Richard Galpin, in Moscow, says Mr Obama will need to include Mr Putin in his charm offensive if he really want to ensure the relationship between Washington and Moscow is on the mend.
Mr Obama is later due to deliver a major speech on democracy, the global economy and the US-Russian relationship.Mr Obama is later due to deliver a major speech on democracy, the global economy and the US-Russian relationship.
On Monday, after meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, he signed eight separate agreements with Russia.On Monday, after meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, he signed eight separate agreements with Russia.
They included a pact to negotiate a new arms control treaty to replace the 1991 Start I pact which expires in December.They included a pact to negotiate a new arms control treaty to replace the 1991 Start I pact which expires in December.
A new agreement could see the two countries reducing their nuclear warheads by up to the third, to below 1,700 each within seven years of the treaty's signing.A new agreement could see the two countries reducing their nuclear warheads by up to the third, to below 1,700 each within seven years of the treaty's signing.
Separately, Russia also agreed to allow the US military to fly troops and weapons across its territory to Afghanistan, allowing it to avoid using supply routes through Pakistan that are attacked by militants.Separately, Russia also agreed to allow the US military to fly troops and weapons across its territory to Afghanistan, allowing it to avoid using supply routes through Pakistan that are attacked by militants.
However, on the contentious issue of US plans to base parts of a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe, the presidents merely said they had agreed to a joint study into ballistic missile threats and the creation of a data exchange centre.However, on the contentious issue of US plans to base parts of a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe, the presidents merely said they had agreed to a joint study into ballistic missile threats and the creation of a data exchange centre.