WASHINGTON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The White House indicated on Wednesday that coming talks between U.S. President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is not likely to make any "grand new announcements."

    "I would caution against expecting grand new announcements," White House spokesman Tony Snow told a news briefing.

    Bush and Putin are due to meet on Sunday at the Bush family's oceanfront estate in Kennebunkport, Maine.

    "This is, in fact, an opportunity for two leaders to talk honestly and candidly with one another," Snow said, noting "If you're expecting some sort of grand initiative, a bold announcement _no."

    The Washington-Moscow ties turned to be cool sharply in past months due to their fierce disputes over the U.S. plan to deploy missile interceptors in Poland and radar units in the Czech Republic as part of a project to extend the missile defense system in Europe.

    Putin has proposed recently the shared use of a Russia-rented early warning radar in Azerbaijan. But the Bush administration is reluctant to replace its plan with Russia's counterproposal. ¡¡