The times on Russian-US summit

The Times, an influential British newspaper, called the Moscow talks between Russian and US President Vladimir Putin and George Bush a meeting of friends.

In its editorial, the Times comments that the leaders met for the fifth time but this meeting is most important. The meeting is meant to ensure uninterrupted transformation of Russo-American relations.

The newspaper notes the significance of signing an agreement on drastic nuclear cuts, adding that a broader agreement on strategic issues is still on the negotiating table to determine progress in this area achieved in the past 18 months. Its signing will mark a step of priority importance.

Such an outcome of the two leaders' meeting would mean that the United States no longer views Russia through the cold war prism and attaches maximum importance to the fight against terrorism and nuclear proliferation, instead.

The newspaper believes that the most important changes in Putin-Bush relations is the two leaders' inclination to openly discuss disputable issues, all the while avoiding destruction of the burgeoning co-operation between them.