Bush, Putin discuss missile defense in Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Russia's worries over US plans for a missile defense system in Europe with President George W. Bush Wednesday, along with a host of other pressing international issues, the Kremlin said. They also discussed growing tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear programs. Putin said that the recent UN Security Council vote on the new resolution had sent Iran a "serious political signal of the need for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the international community, as well as the fact that this resolution unambiguously rules out the use of force." Putin also "expressed the motivations for Russia's concerns in connection with US plans to create a missile defense system in Central Europe," the Kremlin said. "In connection with this, the US president expressed his willingness to discuss this idea with Russia in detail... in the interest of mutual security."