( L - R ) Putin, Bush,

SOCHI (AP):

UNITED STATES (US) President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to resolve their differences over a US missile defence system at a farewell meeting yesterday, with Bush saying the system is not aimed at Russia but at regimes that "could try to hold us hostage".

Bush also met Putin's hand-picked successor and pronounced him "a straightforward fellow".

He did not give President-elect Dmitry Medvedev the kind of unvarnished embrace he gave Putin seven years ago, but told reporters after meeting Medvedev: "You can write down, I was impressed and look forward to working with him."

At a joint news conference at Putin's Black Sea vacation home, Putin was asked whether he or his protégé would be in charge of Russia's foreign policy in early May - when Putin steps down as president and becomes prime minister.

Putin said Medvedev would represent Russia at the Group of Eight meeting of industrial democracies in July in Tokyo. "Mr Medvedev has been one of the co-authors of Russia's foreign policy," Putin said. "He's completely on top of things."

At their final meeting as presidents of their respective countries, Bush and Putin complimented each other lavishly, but acknowledged they remained at odds on some major issues, principally missile defence and NATO's eastward expansion.