Washington Unplugged: World is Watching Obama in Russia

The president travels to Russia on July 6 for a summit meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

"It's a very big test," said Heather Conley, a senior fellow for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "This is where we're going to have to cut through some of the rhetoric and see how much President Obama can get done with his Russian counterparts."

It will be critical to see, Conley said, what the president is willing to compromise on in his pursuit of a new nuclear arms pact to replace START, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Russia is likely to see concessions from the United States on that and other issues, such as a U.S. missile shield in Europe and the expansion of NATO.

A White House official this week said Mr. Obama would stand his ground on those issues, adding that "we don't need the Russians."

"The Obama administration doesn't like being painted into a corner, and that's what the Russians are trying to do," Conley said.

Russian relations are critical for the United States, she said, since the U.S. needs Russia's help on the UN Security Council and on other matters.

The president, Conley said, should also address human rights, since "it's unclear how much information the Russian public is getting on these issues.

You can watch the whole discussion above, as well as an update on U.S.-North Korea relations and an assessment of U.S. progress in Afghanistan from CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.