President Putin speaks often with his American counterpart, and the Kremlin's press service reports that the two leaders conducted yet another round of discussions yesterday regarding "cooperation…on current international issues.” Those issues included last week's U.N. Security Council resolution on Iran, the status of Kosovo, and American plans to deploy a missile defense system in Central Europe. As pointed out by the Kremlin, "the conversation took place at the initiative of the United States.”

The Russian media has largely interpreted President Bush's "initiative" as an act of gratitude after the United States was able to shore up Russian support for Resolution 1747, which stipulated "the international community's profound concerns over Iran's nuclear program.” But some Russian journalists seem to see an upside in a confrontation between the United States and Iran. Prominent journalist Mikhail Leontiev (who has been described as "the most unabashed champion of the Kremlin") asserts that "in principle, [Russia] is interested in drawing the Americans into the Iranian adventure. If the [U.S.] has gone mad, let them be punished." And today's Nezavisimaya Gazeta offers a more calculating analysis, pointing out that U.S. military action would disrupt Iranian oil deliveries through the Straits of Hormuz--the resulting rise in oil prices will "bring Russia tens of billions” the paper said.

The Putin-Bush "telephone diplomacy,” however, failed to resolve other outstanding disagreements. During yesterday's conversation, the Russian leader held his ground on Kosovo, noting that "Russia reaffirm[s] its position of principle that nothing should be imposed on either side." In an interview today with Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov echoed the president's sentiment, describing the Ahtisaari report, which was presented to the U.N. on Monday and recommended independence for Kosovo, as a "discussion process deliberately led to a dead end." Titov added: "Separatism, rewarded in Kosovo, will receive a strong impulse in other parts of the world.” In an interview yesterday with Rosbalt, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica agreed: "Kosovo cannot be independent--and if someone tries to take it away from us by violating international law, Serbia will never consent to this."