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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Bush and Putin in informal talks | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in the US for two-day talks with President George W Bush aimed at easing tensions between the two sides. | |
| The two leaders are meeting informally at the Bush family holiday home in Kennebunkport in the state of Maine. | |
| Ties have been strained, 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. |
| As Mr Putin arrived, more than 1,000 demonstrators protested nearby, criticising his policy on Chechnya and calling for Mr Bush to be impeached over the war in Iraq. | |
| 'Friendly spirit' | |
| The Russian leader said he was looking forward to "friendly" talks with Mr Bush. | |
| Demonstrators held a protest near the site of the talks | |
| "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. | "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 two leaders will have a meal together on Sunday evening and then hold further talks on Monday. The meeting is being described as informal and the two men are expected to go fishing. | The two leaders will have a meal together on Sunday evening and then hold further talks on Monday. The meeting is being described as informal and the two men are expected to go fishing. |
| The BBC's James Coomarasamy, in Kennebunkport, says officials from both countries are lowering expectations for any major policy breakthroughs. | 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 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 UN 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. |
| President Bush is also expected to raise the issue of Iran, hoping to gain Russian support for wider economic sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran over its nuclear programme. | President Bush is also expected to raise the issue of Iran, hoping to gain Russian support for wider economic sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran over its nuclear programme. |