COPENHAGEN, Denmark, April 01, SPA -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday the United States and Russia have moved closer to an accommodation on U.S. missile defenses in Europe, and he expressed hope that new steps will be agreedon in weekend talks between President Bush and RussianPresident Vladimir Putin. Gates suggested at a news conference in Copenhagen, theDanish capital, that overcoming Russia's objections to U.S. plans for missile defense bases in Poland and the CzechRepublic could have the added benefit of easing concernsamong U.S. allies in Europe about Russia's public threatsto retaliate if the bases are installed. Missile defense is among topics on the agenda of a NATOsummit this week in Bucharest, Romania. Asked about prospects for a breakthrough in the Putin-Bushtalks following the summit, Gates said he was notpredicting any particular result but believed the two sideshad moved closer to an understanding in recent talks,including meetings he and Secretary of State CondoleezzaRice held in Moscow in March. Bush is scheduled to meet with Putin at the Black Searesort of Sochi this weekend, following the NATO summit, todiscuss missile defense, the Associated Press reported.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/541970