US President George W. Bush will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Slovakia in late February as part of an expanding effort by the White House to improve relations with European nations

US President George W. Bush will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Slovakia in late February as part of an expanding effort by the White House to improve relations with European nations. A senior US official said an announcement of the February 24 meeting is expected tomorrow. Mr Bush has maintained strong ties with Mr Putin, although on occasion the administration has gently criticised the Russian government for some of its domestic policies. The leaders are working together, though, on countering terrorism. Mr Bush is focused primarily on the al-Qaeda terror network and the insurgency in Iraq while Putin is trying to deal with extremists in secession-minded Chechnya. Mr Bush is also going to the Belgian capital, Brussels, in February for a NATO summit conference and a meeting with EU leaders. The stop also is part of a renewed effort to overcome differences stemming from Mr Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq over the objections in France, Germany, Russia and several other European countries.