Relations between the United States and Russia have been testy, most recently over Bush's plans to put a radar facility in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. Putin said he may have to retarget Russia's missiles at European cities in response.

Bush said he'll tell Putin when they meet Thursday that "Russia is not our enemy." Bush said his "general principle" when it comes to relations between the United States and Russia is that "the Cold War is over. It ended."

Bush and Putin will spend more time trying to iron out their differences July 1-2 when Putin visits the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Their sessions "will clarify certain trends and, hopefully, not cement relations into an even deeper hole," said Toby Gati, a Russia expert and former assistant secretary of State. "Sometimes in diplomacy, just keeping things from getting worse is enough."

Before leaving for the Group of Eight summit in Germany, Bush told a democracy conference in Prague that Moscow has been backsliding. "In Russia," Bush said, "reforms that were once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications" for democracy.

Defending his push for democracy in Iraq and beyond, Bush said the United States "is committed to the advance of freedom and democracy as the great alternatives to repression and radicalism."

Bush said the conference included dissidents from 17 regimes. He cited the efforts of democratic activists in Syria, China, Belarus, Burma, Cuba, Vietnam and Egypt — most of whom could not make it to the conference because they are in prison.

He acknowledged issues between the United States, China and Russia but said the United States would not shrink from its support of democratic principles — even when that support angers allies.

"Part of a good relationship is the ability to talk openly about our disagreements, so the United States will continue to build our relationships with these countries — and we will do it without abandoning our principles or our values," the president said.

Earlier in the day, Bush discussed the missile defense plans with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. In thanking them for their support, Bush said Czech citizens and their leaders don't have to choose between "being a friend to the United States or a friend with Russia. You can be both."

Bush said that when he talks to Putin this week, his message will be "Vladimir — I call him Vladimir — you shouldn't fear a missile defense system. As a matter of fact, why don't you cooperate with us on a missile defense system?"

Putin told a group of reporters recently that the U.S. missile defense plans would upset "the strategic balance in the world." He vowed to "create a system to overpower this new system."

The White House circulated a quote from Putin, who told NBC News in 2000 that he supported a common effort on missile defense against nations such as North Korea. "Such mechanisms are possible if we pool our efforts and direct them towards neutralizing the threats against the United States, Russia, our allies or Europe in general," Putin said in 2000.

The U.S. proposal also faces resistance in the Czech Republic.

A recent poll of Czechs showed 61% opposed building a missile radar base inside their borders, and 71% supported holding a referendum on the matter.

More than 2,000 protesters marched through the streets of Prague last month.

Czech Republic Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra said the government needs to do a better job to "explain to the people why this is important, and we have plenty of time to do this."

Bush arrived in Germany on Tuesday for two days of G-8 meetings with leaders from industrialized nations. He will travel to Poland on Friday to talk to leaders there about the missile defense proposal.

Contributing: Barbara Slavin in Washington