The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, made clear his determination to go ahead with the sale of anti-aircraft missiles to Syria despite strong pressure from Israeli leaders to revoke it. Neither Russia nor Israel made any effort to disguise the open disagreement on this and other issues ­ including Iran ­ in talks which both Mr Putin and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, nevertheless went out of their way to depict as cementing significantly improved relations between the two countries. Mr Putin said that, to come within range of the anti-aircraft missiles, Israel would "have to attack Syria. Do you want to do that?" He said the missiles could not be shoulder-fired and would not work if uncoupled from the Jeeps on which they were mounted. This is unlikely to allay fears in the Israeli security community.