By Xinhua
Moscow : Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephonic conversation with his US counterpart George W. Bush Monday and discussed the results of recent talks between the foreign and defence ministers of the two countries.
The two heads of states pledged to support further interaction mechanism such as the ministerial meetings to cope with strategic issues, said the Kremlin press service.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, as well as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov held “two-plus-two” talks earlier this month in Moscow.
The talks, however, failed to reach any agreement on the controversial US missile defence plan in Central Europe, which includes a radar station in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland.
The ministers also discussed ways to reduce offensive arms after the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty expires.
Washington has insisted the missile shield is intended to stave off the threat of attacks from what it calls “rogue states”.
Moscow, however, strongly opposes the plans, considering them a threat to its national security.