Russia and the United States differences.

Russia and the United States sparred over Kosovo and U.S. missile shield plans, souring a meeting aimed at preparing the ground for next week's Group of Eight summit on the Baltic coast. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke bluntly on disagreements over Kosovo, a major irritant in Russia's relations with the European Union and the United States. He also traded barbs on Lebanon and the missile shield. Serbia, backed by Russia, opposes a plan proposed by U.N. mediator Martti Ahtisaari offering the Albanian majority province independence under international supervision. Western powers have backed a U.N. resolution that would grant Kosovo effective independence. Lavrov, however, said other world powers should let Serbs and Kosovo Albanians sort out the question of the future status of the province themselves. Rice emphasized Kosovo was an issue of international concern and she wanted agreement as soon as possible.

G8 president Germany hopes to avoid a showdown between the United States and Russia at the Heiligendamm leaders' summit which will focus on climate change and aid to Africa. But U.S.Russia's Vladimir Putin to his family's home in Maine in July. But differences over Kosovo and U.S. plans to install a missile shield in central Europe were difficult to hide. The United States wants to deploy a radar system in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland by 2011-12. The system would counter threats from rogue states like Iran and North Korea, but Moscow sees it as an encroachment on its former sphere of influence. Lavrov also sniped at U.S. military shipments last week to Lebanon's government and cautioned against such aid further destabilizing the region. Afghanistan and Pakistan, invited by Germany to the meeting, vowed to deepen cooperation between their governments at all levels, particularly in the fight against terrorism and repatriating Afghan refugees. The two, who accuse each other of failing to stop a Taliban insurgency, are seeking ways to seal their long, porous border. officials traveling with Rice said the Russians had sought conflict at every turn. Rice and Lavrov were publicly courteous to each other, mentioning that U.S. President George W. Bush had invited