Bush, Putin to discuss Iran in airport talks

Putin, in an unusual move not required by protocol, will go out to Moscow's Vnukovo-2 airport to see Bush during a one-hour refueling stopover by the U.S. leader, who is bound for Vietnam to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

The gesture by Putin is all the more unusual given that relations between Washington and Moscow are at their lowest point in many years.

While saying the meeting highlights the good personal relations between the two men, who will be accompanied by their spouses, the Kremlin acknowledged Iran would figure high in exchanges of substance between Bush and Putin.

"The detailed discussion of Iran will take place in Hanoi," a Kremlin spokesman said, referring to a scheduled meeting between Bush and Putin on the sidelines of the APEC summit on Saturday. The Russian leader is also attending the APEC meeting.

"But of course we can expect some talk of Iran in the short exchange of views on current issues today," he added. Reuters