NATO-Russia Issues Postponed to Sochi

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told the post-NATO-Russia Council press conference that "The discussion was frank and open, there was no hiding of views but the spirit was positive."

It was always likely once the Bush-Putin Summit had been agreed to that the NATO event would lose some of its sting. However, it didn't pass off entirely without incident. According to Russian website Kommersant, Mr Putin told NATO that the appearance of a military bloc close to Russia's borders was a direct threat to Russian security.

At the same time there was some political progress. While NATO had hoped for land and air transit of troops and supplies on their way to Afghanistan, the Russian leader granted access through his country only by land and only for equipment and supplies. Still, that was something NATO leaders welcomed.

Putin also reportedly expressed a willingness to negotiate with NATO on a return to full operation of the Adapted CFE Treaty, suspended by Russia late last year.