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'Some progress' in Russia-US ties | |
(40 minutes later) | |
US President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin have signed a framework agreement but said they had made no breakthrough on differences. | |
Mr Putin said Russia remained opposed to US missile defence plans in Europe, but there were "positive developments". | |
Mr Bush said there was still work to do to persuade Moscow that the system was not aimed at Russia. | |
Their farewell meeting, in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, came a month before Mr Putin was due stand down. | |
Russian President-elect Dmitry Medvedev also met Mr Bush, saying he hoped to continue advancing Russia-US relations. | Russian President-elect Dmitry Medvedev also met Mr Bush, saying he hoped to continue advancing Russia-US relations. |
'Not afraid' | 'Not afraid' |
The summit began cordially, with the leaders joining a folk dance during dinner on Saturday evening at Mr Putin's holiday home. | |
When all is said and done, we'll shake hands - you've been a strong leader President Bush | When all is said and done, we'll shake hands - you've been a strong leader President Bush |
And the following morning they met at a guest house in the presidential compound. | And the following morning they met at a guest house in the presidential compound. |
Mr Bush said as they exchanged pleasantries that the meeting would be "interesting". | Mr Bush said as they exchanged pleasantries that the meeting would be "interesting". |
"You're not afraid to tell me what's on your mind," he said, quoted by the Associated Press. | "You're not afraid to tell me what's on your mind," he said, quoted by the Associated Press. |
"When all is said and done, we'll shake hands. You've been a strong leader." | "When all is said and done, we'll shake hands. You've been a strong leader." |
Mr Bush held separate talks with Mr Medvedev, who takes over as Russian president next month. | Mr Bush held separate talks with Mr Medvedev, who takes over as Russian president next month. |
The president-elect said he wanted to carry on the work done by Mr Bush and Mr Putin to advance bilateral relations, which he described as a "key factor in international security". | The president-elect said he wanted to carry on the work done by Mr Bush and Mr Putin to advance bilateral relations, which he described as a "key factor in international security". |
Correspondents say the meeting will have given Mr Bush a chance to see how much power Mr Putin will continue to wield when he becomes prime minister. | Correspondents say the meeting will have given Mr Bush a chance to see how much power Mr Putin will continue to wield when he becomes prime minister. |
Romania summit | Romania summit |
Russia has strongly criticised US proposals to site a missile defence system in Eastern Europe, which would see interceptor missiles based in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic. | Russia has strongly criticised US proposals to site a missile defence system in Eastern Europe, which would see interceptor missiles based in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic. |
Their meeting follows a Nato summit in Romania where Mr Putin - a guest at the Bucharest gathering - warned against the Western military alliance's eastward expansion. | Their meeting follows a Nato summit in Romania where Mr Putin - a guest at the Bucharest gathering - warned against the Western military alliance's eastward expansion. |
The summit also saw Nato countries agreeing to back the US missile plans during the Romanian summit. | The summit also saw Nato countries agreeing to back the US missile plans during the Romanian summit. |
On the issue of Nato expansion, Russia maintains that US plans to include Ukraine and Georgia will be viewed as a direct threat. | |
The two countries are seeking to become members of the alliance, but were not offered a fast-track "Membership Action Plan" at the summit. | |
The alliance has, however, left open the option of taking them in. |