Amid Acrimony, Bush Meets Putin

Leaders Talk After Days Of Barbs About Democracy

(CBS/AP)  Despite contentions over Moscow's commitment to democracy, President Bush thanked Russia's Vladimir Putin on Sunday for help on Iran and the Middle East and said "there's a lot we can do together."

The two leaders put an upbeat cast on talks at Putin's dacha at a walled compound in a birch forest 25 miles west of Moscow. The Russian leader even let Bush drive his white Volga sedan from one building to another for dinner with their wives.

"Be careful," Bush joshed to reporters. "He's giving me a driving lesson."

The two leaders ignored reporters' questions and kept their real discussions private, so there was no repeat of the contentious debate that flared publicly at a February news conference when they disagreed about Moscow's quashing of dissent and exertion of control in the country.

"Russia's a great nation and I'm looking forward to working together on big problems," Bush said. "And I want to thank you for your help on Iran and the Middle East and there's a lot we can do together."

During a brief photo opportunity before their talks, the two leaders exchanged pleasantries as they sat alongside each other in front of an unlit, ornate fireplace.

Putin said Bush's visit was "of special importance" and he spoke of "a very large volume of cooperation between our countries."

Bush said he looked forward to Monday's celebration in Red Square of the 60th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat, saying it will help the world "recognize the great bravery and sacrifice the Russian people made in the defeat of Naziism."

"The people of Russia suffered incredible hardship and yet the Russian spirit never died down," Bush said.

Earlier Sunday, Bush celebrated the end of World War II 60 years ago at an American cemetery in Margraten in the Netherlands, emphasizing the themes of democracy and freedom.

"The world's tyrants learned a lesson: There is no power like the power of freedom and no soldier as strong as a soldier who fights for that freedom," Bush told a crowd of thousands, including many white-haired war veterans who wore plastic rain ponchos on a raw spring morning.

"On this day we celebrate the victory they won," Bush said, "and we recommit ourselves to the great truth that they defended: that freedom is the birthright of all mankind."

Relations between Bush and Putin have soured of late amid U.S. unhappiness with Russian missile sales to Syria and crackdowns on business and Moscow's complaints of American meddling in its traditional sphere of influence.

Even before Bush arrived in Moscow, Putin appeared increasingly irritated at Bush's criticism of Russia's treatment of its former republics and the president's push for democracy along Russia's borders. Bush said at an earlier stop in Latvia that Russia should acknowledge the Soviet Union's domination of Central and Eastern Europe and its harsh occupation of the Baltic country.