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Putin optimistic about US issues 'Positive' Russia-US meeting held
(about 3 hours later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin says a number of problems can be resolved in relations between Russia and the US. Russia and the US have expressed optimism about improving relations during talks between senior officials.
Mr Putin said he had received a letter from President George W Bush, which he described as "a serious document". US Defence Secretary Robert Gates suggested a deal on the thorny issue of missile defence could be struck before President George W Bush leaves office.
He did not specify further, but relations have soured recently over US plans to base missile defence elements in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had received a "serious document" from Mr Bush which could help produce successful dialogue.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who is visiting Russia, expressed hope that the issue could be resolved. The comments came as Mr Gates had talks in Moscow with Mr Putin.
Mr Gates, who is in Moscow with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, was asked by reporters whether the missile defence issue could be settled before the end of President Bush's term in office - in January 2009. Missile plan
"I think the answer is yes", he said. "But I would also say the environment in our meetings was positive today. Whether that leads to a positive conclusion remains to be seen." The upbeat tone contrasts with a dip in relations last year over American plans to base parts of a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Hopes for progress Russia strongly objects to the US missile defence plan, but Washington says its missile shield will protect the US against attacks from "rogue" states.
Mr Gates was speaking after talks with the President-elect Dmitry Medvedev and Mr Putin. Mr Gates, who is in Moscow with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, was asked by reporters whether the missile defence issue could be settled before the end of Mr Bush's term in office - in January 2009
Earlier, Mr Putin called the letter from President Bush "a serious document which we have carefully analysed." "I think the answer is 'yes'," he said. "But I would also say the environment in our meetings was positive today. Whether that leads to a positive conclusion remains to be seen."
Problems
Earlier, Mr Putin called the letter from Mr Bush "a serious document which we have carefully analysed".
How defence system worksHow defence system works
"If we manage to agree on its main provisions, we will be able to say that our dialogue is progressing successfully," he added."If we manage to agree on its main provisions, we will be able to say that our dialogue is progressing successfully," he added.
Mr Putin, who steps down next month, said there were "enough problems" to discuss but that some issues could be considered resolved. Mr Putin, who steps down next month, said there were "enough problems" to discuss but that some issues could be considered resolved. He gave no further details.
He gave no further details. But a Pentagon official travelling with Mr Gates was quoted by Reuters as saying the letter focused on what the American delegation wanted to discuss in Moscow. Mr Gates and Ms Rice have also been meeting President-elect Dmitry Medvedev.
'Move forward' "There is a will to move forward," said Mr Medvedev, though he conceded that differences remain.
Mr Gates' upbeat tone on the missile defence question was echoed by Mr Medvedev. Ill-tempered exchange
"There is a will to move forward," he said after meeting Ms Rice and Mr Gates. But he conceded that differences still remained. The talks were also expected to cover combating terrorism, economic ties and the future of arms control.
Russia strongly objects to the US missile defence plan, but Washington says its missile shield will protect the US against attacks from "rogue" states. The Moscow meetings come just days after an ill-tempered verbal exchange between the two former Cold War foes.
The talks in Moscow come just days after an ill-tempered verbal exchange between the two former Cold War foes.
Last week, a US state department document highlighted reports of widespread human rights abuses in Russia.Last week, a US state department document highlighted reports of widespread human rights abuses in Russia.
The Kremlin dismissed it as a "hackneyed collection of claims," and accused Washington of "double standards".The Kremlin dismissed it as a "hackneyed collection of claims," and accused Washington of "double standards".