Putin to throw Bush a bone?

When he meets President George Bush on July 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin will push his proposal to base elements of the US missile defence shield in Azerbaijan.

He will do so as an earnest of Russia's willingness to cooperate with Washington on this controversial issue. Putin has several bargaining chips up his sleeve. Specifically, he will threaten to declare a moratorium on the implementation of the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, which could lead to a military build-up on Russia's northern borders.

As incentives, Putin could offer not to veto the US-backed plan for Kosovo's independence, and withdraw troops from Georgia and Moldova.  He has paved the way for concessions and compromise by toning down the rhetoric in the run up to the  Kennenbunkport meeting. A breakthrough is unlikely. But the two presidents will aim to avoid a showdown, leaving officials on both sides to continue the bickering that defines US-Russia relations.