Washington: President George W Bush has announced that he would visit Russia early next month for talks with President Vladimir Putin on strategic issues, including US plans for a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe.
"I am going to go to Russia," Bush told reporters at the White House, saying he had been invited to Sochi, where Putin has a holiday home.
"President Putin has invited me to go to Sochi to discuss the strategic agreement, a crucial part of which is missile defense. We re optimistic we can reach an accord on some very important matters," he said.
Bush said the visit would take place after the April 2-4 NATO summit in Romania. He is currently scheduled to visit Croatia immediately after the summit, so the Russian trip could follow that, but the president's advisers said final details were still being worked out.
Russia welcomed Bush's decision to make the trip, probably his last opportunity to meet Putin in his home country before the Russian leader hands over power on May 7 to President-elect Dmitry Medvedev. Putin is expected to become Prime Minister in the new government.
Washington: President George W Bush has announced that he would visit Russia early next month for talks with President Vladimir Putin on strategic issues, including US plans for a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. 
