U.S. President George W. Bush (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin hold a joint press availability after their summit meeting at the Bush family home on Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine July 2, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday proposed expanding cooperation on a missile shield to include European and NATO countries.

    Speaking after talks with U.S. President George W. Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine, Putin said: "We support the idea of consultations on missile defense and believe that the number of participants should be expanded to include the European States."

    "This should be done within Russia-NATO council, " Putin said.

    The Russian leader also said that he did not believe it was necessary to have the missile defense systems in the Czech Republic and Poland.