The European Union and the United States have agreed that addressing global warming is a pressing issue. President George W Bush acknowledged the importance of convincing Russia about the necessity of a missile shield in Europe. During a White House summit, Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso reiterated their commitment to reaching a global trade agreement within the Doha round of talks. They also continued to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program, despite Tehran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment. Merkel, visiting Washington for the first time since assuming the EU presidency, emphasized the importance of addressing global climate change ahead of the Group of Eight summit in Germany in June. During a press conference held in the Rose Garden, the European representatives expressed satisfaction with the progress made on the issue, even though no specific actions were outlined for the EU and the United States to tackle the problem together. Barroso stated his appreciation for the advancements made in the meeting, highlighting the mutual understanding that there is a significant global threat posed by emissions that needs to be addressed through collaborative efforts. Bush, who was criticized for being slow to acknowledge climate change as a problem, emphasized that any agreement between the United States and Europe would have a limited impact without the participation of developing countries like China. He pointed out that even if the United States completely stopped emitting greenhouse gases, China could easily surpass that level of emissions in a short amount of time. However, Merkel argued that it is crucial for developed countries to take the lead in reducing carbon emissions. She stated that if developed countries with advanced technologies do not take action, it will be difficult to convince other countries to do the same, ultimately leading to a lack of worldwide reduction in CO2 emissions. The leaders of the US and EU met amidst criticism from Russia regarding US plans to deploy a missile shield in Eastern Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to take 'appropriate measures' to counter the system. President Bush mentioned that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had previously raised concerns about the missile shield, and he planned to explain the purpose of the shield to Putin. In an effort to include Russia in the dialogue, Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with Putin last week to offer Russia the chance to be a part of the shield, which is intended to counter terrorist threats rather than revive the Cold War. Bush emphasized the importance of starting a dialogue to clarify intentions and show the Russians that the shield is not meant to be antagonistic, but rather a friendly gesture.