TODAY: Russia-Israel meeting sidesteps thorny issues; draft nuclear agreement could be ready for Obama’s July visit; state won’t put money into Sochi this year; road blockaded by protesters in Pikalyovo

The Kremlin has said that the US and Russia may have reached a draft deal on nuclear reduction by the time of Obama’s visit to Moscow in July.  In his meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Sergei Lavrov has lauded Washington’s new approach to Iran and its nuclear issues, and added ‘we have confirmed the need to assure the international community of the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program’.  Lavrov made no public comment about dialogue with Hamas.  China and Russia are backing a ‘convincing’ response to North Korea.  A Georgian lawmaker has accused a St. Petersburg banker of having ties with Vladimir Putin and funding last month’s attempted uprising at a military base.  Georgian Defense Minister Vasil Sikharulidze has told Washington officials that Russia is re-enforcing its build up of troops in breakaway Georgian territory.