With world leaders in Mexico this week for the G20 meeting, President Barack Obama met with Russian President Vladimir Putin privately Monday to ease tensions and discuss where each nation stands with relations to Iran and Syria. Coming out of the meeting both leaders called for an end to the violence in Syria and continued diplomacy with Iran to stop them from developing nuclear weapons.

Russia has stood as one of the lone world powers aligned with the Syrian government as a humanitarian crisis persists in the nation, and where a Russian ship delivering arms and attack helicopters was headed before halted Tuesday by Britain off the coast of Scotland. Separate talks regarding nuclear proliferation with Iran and world powers also stalled in Moscow Tuesday, with only Russia reportedly looking to continue the diplomatic effort avoiding any military action by Israel. In both cases, Russia stands as a roadblock for U.S. interests. Are we looking at the beginning stages of a sequel to the cold war?

Stephen Yates of D.C. International Advisory joined "Real News" Tuesday to discuss the current U.S. relationship with Russia, and whether escalating concerns are valid and can be solved.