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Bush and Putin prepare for talks Bush and Putin prepare for talks
(about 11 hours later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is to head to the US for an informal meeting with President George W Bush. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is looking forward to "friendly" talks as he heads to the US to meet President George W Bush.
The two leaders will hold two days of talks at the Bush family holiday home in Kennebunkport in the state of Maine.The two leaders will hold two days of talks at the Bush family holiday home in Kennebunkport in the state of Maine.
The meeting comes amid strained ties between the two sides, particularly over US plans to put parts of a missile defence system in eastern Europe. Ties have been strained, particularly over US plans to put parts of a missile defence system in eastern Europe.
The final status of Kosovo is another point of friction, with Russia opposing full independence for the province.The final status of Kosovo is another point of friction, with Russia opposing full independence for the province.
The BBC's James Coomarasamy, in Kennebunkport, says that officials from both countries are lowering expectations for any major policy breakthroughs. "I hope that the dialogue with this person with whom I've formed good, I would say friendly relations, will take place in exactly that spirit," Mr Putin was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Interfax ahead of his departure.
The BBC's James Coomarasamy, in Kennebunkport, says officials from both countries are lowering expectations for any major policy breakthroughs.
For the US side, the talks are about restoring a sense of trust to a relationship which of late has become increasingly fractious, our correspondent says.For the US side, the talks are about restoring a sense of trust to a relationship which of late has become increasingly fractious, our correspondent says.
'Megaphones''Megaphones'
Earlier this week, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer urged Russia and the West to tone down their rhetoric, saying that there was "no reason to speak with megaphones". Earlier this week, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer urged Russia and the West to tone down their rhetoric, saying there was "no reason to speak with megaphones".
Russia has expressed anger at the proposed US missile defence shield - particularly plans to site a radar in the Czech Republic and 10 anti-missile interceptors in Poland.Russia has expressed anger at the proposed US missile defence shield - particularly plans to site a radar in the Czech Republic and 10 anti-missile interceptors in Poland.
Nato and the US say the facilities would not be directed as Russia, but at "rogue" states such as North Korea and Iran.Nato and the US say the facilities would not be directed as Russia, but at "rogue" states such as North Korea and Iran.
But Mr Putin recently warned that Russia would target its missiles back at Europe if Washington went ahead with the programme.But Mr Putin recently warned that Russia would target its missiles back at Europe if Washington went ahead with the programme.
The UN-administered province of Kosovo is another issue on which the two sides disagree.The UN-administered province of Kosovo is another issue on which the two sides disagree.
Western countries support a plan that would give the territory independence from Serbia, but Russia - which wields a veto in the Security Council - says further negotiations are needed. Western countries support a plan that would give the territory independence from Serbia, but Russia - which wields a veto in the UN Security Council - says further negotiations are needed.