This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7300090.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Russia upbeat on US missile talks Putin optimistic about US issues
(about 2 hours later)
Russia's president-elect has expressed confidence that Moscow and Washington will be able to bring their positions closer on US missile defence plans. Russian President Vladimir Putin says a number of problems can be resolved in relations between Russia and the US.
"There is a will to move forward," Dmitry Medvedev said, but admitted that differences still remained. Mr Putin said he had received a letter from President George W Bush, which he described as "a serious document".
He was speaking in Moscow as he met US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates. He did not specify, but relations have soured recently over US plans to base parts of a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Russia strongly objects to a US plan to place parts of a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates are currently in Russia for talks.
Washington says its missile shield will protect the country against attacks from "rogue" states. "It is a serious document which we have carefully analysed," said Mr Putin at the start of a meeting with Ms Rice and Mr Gates.
Bush's letter "If we manage to agree on its main provisions, we will be able to say that our dialogue is progressing successfully."
"We must create the basis for the continuity of Russian-American relations in future. We have everything we need to achieve that," Mr Medvedev said. Mr Putin, who steps down next month, added that there were "enough problems" to discuss but that some issues could be considered resolved.
Focus
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.
"Frankly, unless they were willing to focus on those issues, it was probably not worth us doing the trip," he said.
Russia's President-elect, Dmitry Medvedev, has meanwhile expressed confidence that Moscow and Washington will be able to bring their positions closer on the US missile defence plans.
"There is a will to move forward," Dmitry Medvedev said after meeting Ms Rice and Mr Gates. But he conceded that differences still remained.
Russia strongly objects to the US missile defence plan, but Washington says its missile shield will protect the US against attacks from "rogue" states.
How defence system worksHow defence system works
Ms Rice and Mr Gates also met President Vladimir Putin, who revealed that he had recently received a letter from President George W Bush, describing it as a "serious document".
President Putin, who will step down next month, said the US-Russian "dialogue will be productive if we manage to agree on its [the letter's] main provisions".
He did not give further details about the letter.
Speaking to reporters earlier, during his flight to Moscow, Mr Gates said he expected Russia to respond to earlier US proposals on the issue, including one offering Moscow access to missile shield sites.Speaking to reporters earlier, during his flight to Moscow, Mr Gates said he expected Russia to respond to earlier US proposals on the issue, including one offering Moscow access to missile shield sites.
"We've put a lot on the table and now it's time for them [the Russians] to reciprocate," Mr Gates said."We've put a lot on the table and now it's time for them [the Russians] to reciprocate," Mr Gates said.
Ill-tempered
"At some point the Russians are going to have to decide whether they want to be true partners, which we are offering, or whether this is just all a sham game on their part to stall the whole deal.""At some point the Russians are going to have to decide whether they want to be true partners, which we are offering, or whether this is just all a sham game on their part to stall the whole deal."
But Mr Gates also talked down chances of a major breakthrough during the visit.But Mr Gates also talked down chances of a major breakthrough during the visit.
Many in Moscow believe the system is a threat to Russia, and countless American assurances to the contrary have failed to convince, the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says.
The talks in Moscow 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".