As relations with Russia worsen, Bush asks Putin to family retreat

Source: Washington Post
As relations with Russia worsen, Bush asks Putin to family retreat
Peter Baker, Peter Finn, Washington Post
Thursday, May 31, 2007

04:00 PDT Washington -- President Bush opened a high-stakes campaign to repair the dramatically deteriorating U.S. relationship with Russia on Wednesday by inviting President Vladimir Putin to visit the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, after weeks of rhetoric reminiscent of the Cold War.

The White House has grown increasingly alarmed at the harsh tone coming out of Moscow and its hardening positions on issues that include Iran's nuclear program, Kosovo statehood and missile defense. Bush administration officials said privately that the situation has reached a crisis stage and needs to be reversed before it gets worse.

Although the president's aides do not expect to resolve the stickiest issues dividing the two countries during the July 1-2 visit to the family retreat on the rocky Maine coast, they hope the relaxed setting will restore a constructive footing to U.S.-Russian relations. During more than six years in office, Bush has never asked a foreign leader to join him at his parents' seaside home until now, and aides hope Putin will be impressed with the show of intimacy.
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