Cheney was even more pointed in a conversation on the sidelines with Israeli President Shimon Peres, the Israeli news agency Ynetnews reported. Aides to Israel's president said Cheney told him Russian leaders are aware Iran and Syria are buying weapons for terrorist groups in Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The vice president arrived at the Ambrosetti Conference in Cernobbio on the shore of Lake Como after a swing through the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine. In Italy, he criticized Russia's "aggressive moves and diplomatic reversals" and its recent invasion of Georgia to protect the breakaway region of South Osssetia.

"Russian arms-dealing has endangered the prospects for peace and freedom in the region," Cheney said, referring to the Middle East.