SHANGHAI, China?President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that terrorist attacks on America unified their nations like never before, raising hope for long-sought agreements on a U.S. missile defense system.

The negotiations for a new strategic framework were given a forceful nudge by Bush when he privately urged his Russian counterpart to quickly compromise or squander the opportunity to reduce nuclear arsenals.

?The thing that?s really bound us together most right now is our common desire to fight terrorism,? Bush said after their third meeting in five months. Talks will resume when Putin visits the United States in three weeks.

White House officials said later that Bush is prepared to go forward with missile shield plans without Russia unless a deal can be struck by January. His advisers recommended that Bush impose the deadline during one-on-one talks with Putin, but the president decided at the last minute not to personally deliver the message.