russian president vladimir putin were among the many topics they discussed our senior correspondent mark gasnier of takes a closer look. now that we are at rock bottom in terms of relations between russia and the us it's bad now we pine for what they work backward presidents could talk frankly joke laugh heck even collude for elections bill for my election campaign i urgently need for a rush or a loan of two point five billion dollars i'll check on this with the i.m.f. and with some of our friends and see what can be done those were the days when you could funnel billions to get your pals reelected real friendship right there clinton even helped yeltsin with a heart operation their wives now in the yeltsin and hillary clinton visited each other shopped together unfortunately it wasn't very equal friendship nine hundred ninety six the united states was strong russia was in its knees crime corruption stagnation it seemed to get the rule or end of every deal it remains a mistake for nato to move eastward nuclear in conventional arms cannot move eastward into new members to the borders of russia i'v