Last Putin-Bush meeting: Russia continues to oppose scheme to deploy missile defense units in Poland, the Czech Republic

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a press conference following his meeting with George W. Bush in Sochi this weekend that they agreed on the creation of an agenda to solve existing problems in the bilateral relations. Putin said the was cautiously optimistic about the prospects to solve the missile shield issue in negotiations with the US and that the devil was hiding in the details.

Key statements by Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush:

• Putin: Russia still opposes deployment of US missile shield units in the Czech Republic and Poland
• Putin said he agreed with Bush over expertise exchanges on the missile shield
• Putin: positive collaboration with Bush despite all disagreements
• Putin: Russia agreed with the US to intensify dialogue on ABM Treaty
• Putin: Elected President Dmitri Medvedev will from now on represent Russia at high-level talks
• Bush: Medvedev is the kind of guy who says exactly what he believes, had a good conversation with him
• Bush: I’m a bit melancholic that this is my last meeting with Putin as presidents
• Bush: the US will support Russian efforts to join the World Trade Organisation
• Bush: Czech and Polish leaders have to understand to prove more transparent in relations with Russia.