The personal touch is sometimes a pivotal item in the diplomatic toolbox. President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin, time and again, have reached for just the thing to improve one of the world’s most crucial partnerships.

A grinning Putin once put Bush behind the wheel of his prized 1956 Volga at his dacha outside Moscow. Bush has brought Putin to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. He made Putin the first head of state to visit his Texas ranch, entertaining the Russian leader with square dancing.

At a lavish Red Square military parade in Moscow celebrating World War II’s victory, Putin saved the seat closest to him for Bush and risked alienating …

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