TODAY: Kremlin downplays hopes of START breakthrough; Belarus won’t offer political support for money; Gorbachev argues need for perestroika on global level; Putin playing to the crowd, Medvedev left in the wings?; Litvinenko suspect to sit in duma; Sochi construction chief ousted

The Kremlin is being ‘pragmatic’ and does not have ‘high expectations of the outcome’ of Obama’s upcoming Moscow trip, saying as long as the issue of missile defense remains ‘unclear‘, it will be unwilling to reduce its own weaponry.  Mikhail Gorbachev has penned an article in the Washington Post suggesting that the US is in need of its own perestroika.  Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has rejected Russia’s offers of a $500 million loan as it is reportedly contingent upon Belarus recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.  Russia has banned imports of milk products from Belarus.