I thought it was to discredit Putin as he seems to be more popular these days than Obama..especially when he is urging the US to put on the brakes regarding bombing Syria until the UN Investigators finish.
i'm 100% certain that, if true, this would have the opposite effect.
Putin would be regarded as being an effective operator and has the inside knowledge about the US that the UN should listen to
we've got stoned adolescents running this country