Putin compares U.S. missile shield to Cuban crisis

In an attempt to stop the U.S. plan, Putin has promised to allow Washington use a radar it rents in Azerbaijan, built in the Soviet days to monitor the Indian Ocean zone, or a new radar with even wider range located in southern Russia.

He has also proposed setting up a joint missile defense system, which would include European countries.

Washington has made clear it was ready to cooperate with Russia, but said the Russian offer was an addition rather than a replacement for its missile shield plan.

"Unfortunately we haven't received replies to our proposals," Putin said.

He said, however, the row over the U.S. missile shield plans had no chance of turning into a major global crisis.

"Thank God, we do not have any Cuban missile crisis now and this is above all because of the fundamental way relations between Russia and the United States and Europe have changed.

"Not in the least our personal relations with President Bush, the relations of trust, help to smooth such problems. I have a full right to describe him as my personal friend as he calls me his friend."

(Additional reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow and Sue Pleming in Washington)