WASHINGTON -- President Bush appealed Friday to a reluctant Russian President Vladimir Putin to back a new U.N. Security Council resolution threatening Iraq with war if it does not destroy its weapons stockpiles.

But despite a basically warm relationship and cooperation against terrorism, Russia held to its view that threats should be deferred at least until U.N. weapons inspectors take up President Saddam Hussein's offer to allow a resumption of searches after nearly four years.

Bush gave no sign of giving ground in the diplomatic skirmish, while Russian ministers who called on him at the White House hinted there may be room for compromise.

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said he was willing to explore any evidence that Saddam was pursuing a dangerous weapons program. "Moscow's position regarding a military operation against Iraq will depend on the information given us by the American side," he said.

Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, speaking at the National Press Club, said after some 7,000 U.N. inspections it was determined that Iraq's nuclear and chemical weapons programs had been dismantled. "Only the question of biological weapons remains open," the foreign minister said.

After two rounds of talks at the State Department, interspersed by the Bush meeting, the Russian defense and foreign ministers departed without an agreement except one to keep talking.

Economic interests

As Iraq's biggest trading partner, Russia fears a war not only would intensify instability in the Middle East but also jeopardize its economic interests in Iraq, which owes Moscow $7 billion in Soviet-era debt. Russian oil companies are helping rebuild Iraq's oil infrastructure and are positioned to reap significant benefits in the future.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said the U.S. and Russian ambassadors to the United Nations would resume their discussions. "We are going to try to move forward together," he said at a news conference.

Powell said the two sides recommitted themselves to finding a way to get Iraq to comply with more than a decade of Security Council resolutions. They call for inspection of suspect sites and disarmament.

The Bush administration is adding to these demands that Iraq cease support for terrorists, halt mistreatment of its citizens and stop illicit trade practices.

"I think they are open to hear our arguments and we are open to hear their arguments," Powell said. Reports of a split between Russia and the United States on Iraq exaggerate the differences, he said.

Top Bush administration officials have raised the specter of a pre-emptive attack against Iraq -- before it can use nuclear and other weapons.

Similarly, Ivanov on Thursday warned Russia may launch pre-emptive strikes against Chechen rebels in Georgia.

"If we see the bands are headed in our direction ... should we wait for them to cross the border, kill someone and disperse?" he asked.

Powell said the Russians provided the United States with information that would be examined.

Whether Russia's struggle with the Chechens is judged comparable to the U.S. campaign against Iraq could hold the key to whether the two countries will agree on a U.N. resolution.

The account White House spokesman Ari Fleischer gave of Bush's meeting with the two Russian ministers indicated the president was reluctant to back cross-border attacks by Russian troops.

"The president stressed the importance of Russia protecting the sovereignty, the territorial integrity of Georgia," Fleischer said.

30-minute phone call

Bush made his appeal for support from Putin in a 30-minute telephone call.

He told Putin that the United Nations must "pass resolutions that are firm, that accomplish the goals of disarmament, and don't let Iraq avoid responsibility," spokesman Fleischer said.

"The president is confident of the ultimate outcome of the action that will be taken in the United Nations," Fleischer said.

Foreign Minister Ivanov, talking to reporters in the White House driveway, diplomatically underscored that both countries "firmly believe that international U.N. inspectors must return to Iraq."

But the United States considers searching for illicit weapons inadequate. American diplomats are preparing a U.N. resolution to threaten Iraq with military force if it does not disarm.

On this, Ivanov was silent.

Russia, along with France, is a veto-wielding permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. French President Jacques Chirac has proposed two resolutions -- one to get inspectors back to Iraq and the other to consider consequences if Saddam reneged again.