TODAY: Russia rejoins Georgia talks; US-Russia nuclear talks constructive so far; policy report recommends US cancel plans for missile defense in eastern Europe; Medvedev creates body to counter ‘revisionist’ readings of Russian history

Encouragement from international mediators, and receiving a delayed UN report, have seen Russia return to talks on Georgia.  Apparently the talks have been ‘constructive‘ so far and will continue in July.  The Georgian Foreign Ministry believes that the UN report was changed under pressure from Russia, as the amended version makes no reference to Georgian sovereignty over Abkhazia.  Russia will deploy fewer troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia than had been originally envisaged after last year’s conflict.  Again concerns are emerging about consensus at the upcoming EU-Russia summit in far-flung Khabarovsk. ‘I have no high hopes of a united EU position at the summit’, comments one British politician.