President Putin caught a fish yesterday, rode an electric scooter around the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport – and then was even allowed to steer the boat.

The “lobster summit” off the rugged coastline of Maine appears to have achieved its aim of thawing a recent chill in relations between President Bush and his Russian counterpart.

The two men were wreathed in smiles as Mr Putin navigated Fedelity III, a much-prized speedboat belonging to Mr Bush’s father, through the Atlantic waters.

The leaders had ventured out to sea on a breakfast of omelettes and pancakes, which had followed a lobster and swordfish dinner on Sunday night.

Mr Putin, dressed in white jeans and sunglasses, caught a 30in (75cm) striped bass. But, in contrast to the fate of some political opponents in Russia, he let the fish go free, throwing it back into the Atlantic.

Mr Bush, wearing the kind of baggy Hawaiian-style shirt favoured by Americans on holiday, applauded. So did his father, George Bush Sr, who hosted the event and later presented Mr Putin with a Segway scooter as a gift.

This happy fishing party might have been indistinguishable from others along this exclusive stretch of coastline were it not for the presence of two thousand protesters, a media contingent estimated in the hundreds and the presidents’ combined security entourage.

But the conversation, which involved political history, looming elections in both countries and some of the world’s stickiest diplomatic problems, was very different to that of most holidaymakers.

President Bush hinted at the recent disputes between the countries, which have centred on America’s plans for missile defence bases in Moscow’s former political satellites in Eastern Europe. “Through the course of our relationship, there have been times when we have agreed on issues and times when we have not agreed,” he told a press conference, before adding that he always found Mr Putin to be honest and transparent.

The Russian President has suggested that the radar for the missile system could be in Azerbaijan, and it is thought that he made another offer yesterday by suggesting that the interceptors should be based in the south of his own country – an idea that will almost certainly be rejected by the White House. Mr Bush called the Russian leader’s latest missile defence idea “very sincere” and “very innovative”.

However, he said: “I think the Czech Republic and Poland need to be an integral part of the system.” Mr Putin refuses to believe that the system is designed to protect the US from Iran and fears that it is aimed at Russia instead.

On the related issue of neutralising Tehran’s nuclear programme, the two leaders struck a more united front, with promises to cooperate on taking action against Iran through the United Nations. “When Russia and the United States speak along the same lines, it tends to have an effect and therefore I appreciate the Russians’ attitude in the United Nations,” Mr Bush said. “We are close on recognising that we have got to work together to send a common message.”

Mr Putin predicted that “we will continue to be successful” as they worked with the UN Security Council.

He said that the negotiations at the 24-hour summit had been “very substantial” and went on to pay tribute to Mr Bush’s father, who is seen as representing a tradition of international diplomacy that is sometimes ignored by the current Administration.

Saying that he had enjoyed the “warm and homely atmosphere” at Kennebunkport that went “way beyond” what he had expected, Mr Putin added: “I do believe we have to learn from the older generation.”

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