(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/121029-obama-putin-9a.photoblog600.jpg)Jason Reed / Reuters, filePresident Barack Obama shakes hands with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, on June 18. In the past six months, while supplying arms and support to Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime, Putin has shut down a U.S. government program inside Russia that dismantled its obsolete nuclear weapons, and restricted USAID's operations there.By Jim Maceda, NBC NewsNews analysis
LONDON -- One thing is clear: whether it's President Barack Obama or President Mitt Romney, dealing with Russia will be on his "must do" list.
The "sleeping bear" has been pretty restless lately: it has vetoed U.N. Security Council resolutions on Syria (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/19/12836407-russia-china-veto-un-syria-sanctions-us-calls-vote-regrettable?lite) and blocked U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to end the civil war there; it has refused to pressure Tehran, even though it helped build Iran's nuclear enrichment program; and relentless push-back by Russian President Vladimir Putin against basing a missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic – both former Soviet satellite states – has left those two NATO members exposed and nervous.
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