By Caren Bohan
from Reuters

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (Reuters) - President George W. Bush, hosting Vladimir Putin at his family’s estate on Maine’s rocky coast, will seek to revive a friendship with the Russian president amid tensions that have evoked comparisons to the Cold War.

Arriving on Sunday in picturesque Kennebunkport, Putin will dine in the evening with the Bush family at Walker’s Point, the summer home of Bush’s father, former President George Bush.

Bush and Putin will hold a policy session on Monday and may take in some fishing.

U.S. and Russian officials have described the Kennebunkport meeting as informal and emphasized that big announcements are unlikely on some of the difficult issues, such as a proposed U.S. missile shield in Europe and independence for Kosovo.

“One should not expect any breakthroughs to be made or any major decisions to be announced or documents signed,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

“The point of the meeting is to explain to each other mutual concerns and positions on certain questions.”

Iran is one topic the White House is eager to raise. Bush plans to try to enlist Putin’s support for wider economic sanctions aimed at pressuring Tehran over its nuclear program.

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