The enthusiasm from both Bush and Slovakians gathered on Hviezdoslavovo Square in Slovakian capital Bratislava in snowy, windy weather was palpable after Bush had sounded in a speech the theme of freedom.

Slovakia, a former communist state that is now a staunch US ally, is considered part of the "New Europe" of former Soviet bloc states.

Bush arrived here from Belgium and Germany, two countries from the so-called "Old Europe" of states that were West of the Iron Curtain that separated Europe during the Cold War.

Most of the Old Europe, particularly France and Germany, had bitterly opposed the US-led war in Iraq.

Bush's visits in Brussels and Mainz, Germany, on his four-day European trip had involved meeting key leaders but not pressing the flesh of the common folk.

This may have been due to protests. In Mainz, where Bush met German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, more than 10,000 people took part in a demonstration with the theme, "Not Welcome, Mr Bush".

Bush has while overseas favored meeting crowds in former Soviet states, where the populations tend to be pro-American.

In Bratislava, there were no hostile crowds, even if 20 militants from the Greenpeace environmental group demonstrated to call on the United States to fight against global warming.

Bush clearly enjoyed his contact with the people at Hviezdoslavov square.

In his speech, Bush referred to the "Velvet Revolution" which freed then Czechoslovakia from Soviet rule and said: "The Slovak people have made historic progress. You regained your sovereignty and independence. You built a successful democracy."

The US president added: "I know that liberty, the road to liberty and prosperity, has not always been straight or easy. But Americans respect your patience, your courage and your determination to secure a better future for your children."

The rhetoric of freedom came amidst stringent security.

Streetcar traffic was stopped while Bush was in the square and a line of the stilled yellow-red trams was even used to form a barricade to control the crowd.

Access to the square was controlled by metal detectors manned mainly by US security personnel but 27-year-old lawyer Emanuel Stepanik said, unfazed, that she had come "to see Bush in person. It is a unique event in my life."

Slovakia hauled in more than 5,000 police officers, 400 soldiers as well as rescue workers and firefighters to guard the meeting.

Two Slovak MIG jet fighters were protecting the skies, with two more MIGs standing by.

Slovakian airspace was closed for the duration of the summit, which began at about 3 p.m. (1400 GMT).

Truck traffic into Bratislava was being limited from Wednesday until Friday, when Putin leaves. Bush was scheduled to depart shortly after the summit Thursday.

All rights reserved. copyright 2018 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.