President Barack Obama declared Thursday that he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev have “succeeded in resetting” the relationship between the former Cold War adversaries that had dipped to a dangerous low in recent years.
Obama directly acknowledged differences in some areas, such as Moscow’s tensions with neighboring Georgia, but said “we addressed those differences candidly.” And he announced that the U.S. and Russia had agreed to expand cooperation on intelligence and the counterterror fight and worked on strengthening economic ties between the nations.
Obama gave Russia perhaps the biggest gift it could have wanted from the meetings: an unqualified, hearty plug for Moscow’s ascension to the World Trade Organization. Russia has long wanted membership but U.S. support in the past has come with conditions.
“Russia belongs in the WTO,” Obama said as the two leaders stood side-by-side in the East Room after several hours of meetings – including an impromptu trip to a nearby burger joint for lunch.
Traveling by motorcade, the two presidents ventured to Ray’s Hell Burger in Arlington, Va., a popular hamburger joint just outside the nation’s capital. Obama ate there last year with Vice President Joe Biden.
A cheer went up from customers when the presidents walked in.
During their meal, Obama and Medvedev sat at a table with their interpreters, sharing a conversation through them.
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