Bush, Putin Cordial, But Missile Deal Unlikely

Vladimir Putin gave President Bush a warm welcome today, but US-Russian relations seem set to remain frosty on at least one foreign policy front, the AP reports. The two are unlikely to reach a consensus on a proposed missile-defense system in Eastern Europe, a White House spokeswoman said. “We’re going to have to do more work,” she said. “We are still in the early part of these discussions.”

Russia strongly opposes the missile system, despite Bush’s assurances that it would guard against Middle Eastern, not Russian threats. But despite the tensions, the leaders remained cordial, as Putin showed off the preparations for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Over dinner this weekend, the two hope to craft a broad “strategic framework” for future bilateral relations. (More Vladimir Putin stories.)