NATO has criticised President Putin's threat to target Russian missiles at Europe if the US builds a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
A NATO spokesman described President Putin's comments as 'unhelpful and unwelcome'.
The US says it wants missile defence in eastern Europe to counter threats from states like Iran and North Korea, and is not a threat to Russia.
President Bush is due to meet Mr Putin at the three-day G8 summit, which starts on Wednesday.
