WH press secretary Scott McClellan and the press corps get honest with each other:

Q. Yes, I wanted to come back to the agenda of the meeting with Putin, if I may, for a second. The meeting will happen two days before the new vote in Ukraine. Do you expect that to be a major subject in the discussion? Also the President yesterday mentioned --

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, the meeting with Putin? That will be --

Q. Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: That won't be until February. When the vote -- the vote on Ukraine will be --

Q. All right, sorry, I don't know what I'm talking about.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- this week. That's okay, I don't either, so -- (Laughter.)

Q. That is a moment of frankness in the briefing room. (Laughter.)

21 Dec. 2004 (2) [The Press Gaggle]