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Bush visit to test Russia tension Bush seeks to calm Russian fears
(about 1 hour later)
US President George W Bush is in Prague where he is expected to give a speech criticising what he sees as Russia's growing authoritarianism. US President George W Bush has said Russia has nothing to fear from a missile defence system, part of which the US plans to base in eastern Europe.
Mr Bush, en route to the G8 summit in Germany, is visiting the Czech Republic and then Poland - two countries where the US seeks to build a missile shield. Mr Bush said the Cold War was over and Russia was not an enemy of the US.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to aim weapons at Europe if the US sets up a missile shield. The president was speaking during a visit to the Czech Republic, en route to the G8 summit in Germany.
His words have widely been received as recalling the rhetoric of the Cold War. Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to aim weapons at Europe if the shield is set up, in comments seen as reminiscent of Cold War rhetoric.
White House officials insist that President Bush's speech is not about Russia but rather renewing his commitment to spreading freedom and democracy.
See map of US missile defence basesSee map of US missile defence bases
However, the BBC's Jonathan Beale, who is travelling with Mr Bush, says the president is expected to talk about the difficulties of promoting democracy in countries such as Russia and highlight concerns about the Kremlin's tightening grip on power. Washington has dismissed talk of a new Cold War but says the language coming out of the Kremlin has worrying echoes of that era.
Washington has dismissed talk of a new Cold War but says the rhetoric coming out of the Kremlin has worrying echoes of that era. It wants the words toned down.
[Putin] called for a frank dialogue - from my side, it will be frank French President Nicolas Sarkozy New discord set to last Q&A: US missile defence Send us your comments[Putin] called for a frank dialogue - from my side, it will be frank French President Nicolas Sarkozy New discord set to last Q&A: US missile defence Send us your comments
Any criticism will not be welcomed by Moscow and can only lead to further strains, our correspondent says.
Washington wants to deploy interceptor rockets in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic to counter what it describes as a potential threat from "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.Washington wants to deploy interceptor rockets in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic to counter what it describes as a potential threat from "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.
On Sunday President Putin said Iran was not a threat to the US, hinting that Russia was the target.On Sunday President Putin said Iran was not a threat to the US, hinting that Russia was the target.
Speaking on the way to Europe, Mr Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said Mr Putin's remarks were "not helpful".Speaking on the way to Europe, Mr Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said Mr Putin's remarks were "not helpful".
Nato spokesman James Appathurai described Mr Putin's words as "unwelcome", while new French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he would have "frank" talks with the Russian leader.Nato spokesman James Appathurai described Mr Putin's words as "unwelcome", while new French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he would have "frank" talks with the Russian leader.
Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, meanwhile, said Mr Putin's comments were reminiscent of the Cold War rhetoric of Nikita Khrushchev, Soviet leader in the 1950s and 60s.Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, meanwhile, said Mr Putin's comments were reminiscent of the Cold War rhetoric of Nikita Khrushchev, Soviet leader in the 1950s and 60s.
"This is language which has never been used by [Boris] Yeltsin, nor [Mikhail] Gorbachev and not even [Leonid] Brezhnev... This is the language of Khrushchev," he said."This is language which has never been used by [Boris] Yeltsin, nor [Mikhail] Gorbachev and not even [Leonid] Brezhnev... This is the language of Khrushchev," he said.
Mr Putin's spokesman has since attempted to soothe the row, describing the comment as a "hypothetical" response to a "hypothetical" question.Mr Putin's spokesman has since attempted to soothe the row, describing the comment as a "hypothetical" response to a "hypothetical" question.
Missile testsMissile tests
Mr Putin issued his warning in an interview with foreign reporters ahead of the G8 meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany, on Wednesday.Mr Putin issued his warning in an interview with foreign reporters ahead of the G8 meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany, on Wednesday.
The on-board briefings for this trip have set the tone for a "testy" G8 summit with the US and in particular Russia reheating the rhetoric of the Cold War BBC reporter's tour diaryThe on-board briefings for this trip have set the tone for a "testy" G8 summit with the US and in particular Russia reheating the rhetoric of the Cold War BBC reporter's tour diary
"If the American nuclear potential grows in European territory, we will have to have new targets in Europe," Mr Putin said."If the American nuclear potential grows in European territory, we will have to have new targets in Europe," Mr Putin said.
He said neither Iran nor North Korea had the weapons that the US was seeking to shoot down.He said neither Iran nor North Korea had the weapons that the US was seeking to shoot down.
Mr Putin said Washington had "altered the strategic balance" by unilaterally pulling out of the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) treaty in 2002.Mr Putin said Washington had "altered the strategic balance" by unilaterally pulling out of the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) treaty in 2002.
He hoped US officials would change their minds about the missile plan, and said that if an arms race resulted it would not be Russia's fault.He hoped US officials would change their minds about the missile plan, and said that if an arms race resulted it would not be Russia's fault.
Last week, Moscow announced it had tested a ballistic missile to maintain "strategic balance" in the world.Last week, Moscow announced it had tested a ballistic missile to maintain "strategic balance" in the world.
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