Putin hits US with new missile defense offer

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Published: Monday July 2, 2007

Russian leader Vladimir Putin Monday proposed broadening US missile defense plans in Europe by bringing NATO into the project that has strained relations with the United States.

"It is possible to widen the number of European partners who might be interested in resolving this question" as part of a "platform of Russia-NATO cooperation," Putin told reporters here, where US President George W. Bush hosted him at the Bush family's seaside retreat.

Bush did not back down however on his insistence that parts of the shield should be located in central Europe.

The United States says the system aims to ward off attack from "rogue states" such as Iran, but Russia fiercely opposes it, viewing it as a threat to its own security.

After informal talks aimed at soothing recent rancor between Moscow and Washington, Putin said he was ready to bring a new early warning radar facility stationed in southern Russia into the US plans.

Putin last month offered to switch the site of the US installations to Azerbaijan.

He also proposed on Monday setting up an online "information exchange center" in Moscow as part of the system, with a similar installation in a European city.

"In this case, there'd be no need to place any more facilities in Europe -- I mean, the (radar) facility in Czech Republic and the missile base in Poland," the Russian leader said.

Bush called Putin's offer a "very constructive and bold strategic move" that needed further examination. But he insisted that "the Czech Republic and Poland need to be an integral part of this system."

"President Putin proposed a regional approach to missile defense, that we ought to work together bilaterally as well as work through the Russia-NATO Council. And I'm in strong agreement with that concept," he said.

He also lauded progress towards getting Russia on board for tougher sanctions against Iran's nuclear drive. "We're close on recognizing that we got to work together to send a common message," he said.

Putin, however, said the Islamic republic was showing signs of cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, and with the European Union.

Iran said on Saturday that the IAEA's deputy chief would visit Tehran on July 11 to try to resolve outstanding issues over its nuclear program, which the West suspects is a secret drive to build atomic weapons.

Putin was the first foreign leader to be hosted by Bush at his parents' vacation home in Kennebunkport. US officials hoped that the relaxed, outdoor setting of the so-called "lobster summit" would inject a warmer tone into the frosty relationship.

Appearing without jackets and ties, the US and Russian leaders bid to defuse tensions over irritants including missile defense and Kosovo, that have led some observers to fret about a return to Cold War-era mistrust.

Putin said the "warm" welcome given to him at Kennebunkport -- including from the 41st president and current leader's father, George Bush -- went "way beyond" the obligations of protocol.

After the former president had greeted the Russian leader Sunday evening, a snappily dressed Putin offered a bouquet of flowers to First Lady Laura Bush, who displayed informal ease by adjusting his tieless collar.

"Yes, I trust him," Bush said of Putin. "Do I like everything he says? No. And I suspect he doesn't like everything I say. But we're able to say it in a way that shows mutual respect."

Responding to the US anti-missile plans, Putin had threatened at one point to once again train Russia's nuclear warheads on Europe.

But he then issued his surprise offer at last month's Group of Eight summit to install part of the system in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.

After two hours of talks on Sunday beside the rugged Maine coast, Bush and Putin held a breakfast meeting on Monday before a fishing trip on which Bush said Putin caught a fish -- reportedly a striped bass.

Putin insisted it was "a team effort."