Washington ? President Bush and Russian leader Vladimir Putin agreed Monday to negotiate on a missile defense shield, but Bush wouldn’t budge on plans to build it in Eastern Europe.

“I think that the Czech Republic and Poland need to be an integral part of the system,” Bush said at his parents’ compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Putin objects to the prospect of a Star Wars platform in the ex-Soviet satellite states, which are now NATO members. He wants it to be built in Azerbaijan or southern Russia.

Bush contends the system would be used to knock out rockets launched by rogue states or groups, and poses no threat to Russia.

Even after Bush signaled that changing the location was off the table, Putin was upbeat, telling reporters the talks will go on.

“We do support the idea of the continued consultations on this score,” the Russian president said. “Such cooperation, I believe, would result in raising to an entirely new level the quality of cooperation between Russia and the United States.”

Bush and Putin also agreed to put more pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear program.

The seaside summit gave Putin and Bush a cordial setting for the talks. Putin landed a 30-inch striped bass on a morning fishing trip, visited with former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, and dined on Maine’s signature lobster.