Senior Russian and U.S. diplomatic officials have discussed the ongoing negotiations on a new strategic arms treaty, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Ambassador Stephen Mull, acting assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, also discussed nonproliferation.
Moscow and Washington are expected to sign the new document at the beginning of 2010 to replace the START I treaty, which expired on December 5.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday the new Russian-U.S. strategic arms reduction treaty envisions "radical" cuts in the number of strategic offensive weapons.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama announced at their first meeting in April that the countries would replace the START I treaty as part of their efforts to "reset" bilateral ties.
The treaty's outline agreed by the presidents included cutting nuclear arsenals to 1,500-1,675 operational warheads and delivery vehicles to 500-1,000.
MOSCOW, December 23 (RIA Novosti)
