Washington And Moscow Contradict Each Other On 'Who Asked Who' To See Who?

Reuters: Kremlin says U.S. distorts truth saying Putin sought to meet Obama

The Kremlin said on Friday that Washington presented a distorted version of events by saying that President Vladimir Putin had sought to meet U.S. President Barack Obama and said it was the U.S. administration that had proposed the talks.

Obama and Putin are scheduled to meet on Monday after Putin's address to the United Nations at a time of high tension in Europe and the Middle East.

"Details of such preparations are usually not public," Yury Ushakov, the Kremlin adviser, told reporters.

AFP: Obama agrees to meet Putin after 'repeated requests'

Washington (AFP) - US President Barack Obama appeared to pause a two-year effort to isolate Vladimir Putin Thursday, agreeing to what the White House said were "repeated requests" for a meeting.

The Kremlin and White House said the two leaders will have their first formal meeting in two years on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, although they gave differing views as to whether the talks will center around Syria or Ukraine.

WNU Editor: These arrangements are usually kept secret and confidential .... but in this case the White House decided to disclose them first. As to who asked who first .... my money is on the Kremlin being the first to ask. They are deeply concerned that their soon-to-be-launched military operations in Syria may result in an accidental U.S. - Russian confrontation. To avoid this possibility, the Russians want to set-up the same coordinating body that they have set up with Israel to avoid any possible misunderstandings that may end up having both sides shooting at each other. And while both U.S. and Russian defence officials are talking to each other .... it looks like the Russians are on a timetable, and they view the  U.S. as being slow in implementing this plan. Hence the meeting. As for the U.S. .... their agenda is different .... Ukraine is the primary issue.