Russia wants Bulgaria explanation on U.S. missile shield

MOSCOW — Russia is waiting for Bulgaria to explain its intention to join a new US missile defence system in Europe which came as an unwelcome surprise to Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday.
“We are waiting for explanations, we were promised those,” Lavrov was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as telling [...]

NATO chief in first Russia visit to rebuild trust

MOSCOW — NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen was to meet Russian leaders Wednesday in Moscow, the first visit by a head of the Western military alliance since the Georgia war blew a Cold War chill through ties.
Furious disputes over Russia’s actions in its war with Georgia last year led to a halt in cooperation between [...]

Gen. James Jones assures Russia at nuclear talks

MOSCOW — U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones stressed the White House’s desire for friendly relations with Moscow as he met Russian officials on Thursday for nuclear disarmament talks.
Jones, a retired US general, told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that President Barack Obama remained committed to improving ties with Moscow that have been badly strained [...]

Russia and U.S. to resume nuclear reduction talks

MOSCOW — Russia and the United States resume talks Monday in Geneva to thrash out a new agreement on limiting their nuclear arsenals, amid signs they are moving towards an accord.
Negotiators from the former Cold War foes come together for the latest meeting in negotiations aimed at replacing or renewing the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction [...]

New U.S. missile plan raises ‘questions’ : Russia

CHISINAU — The new US missile defence plan “raises more questions than answers,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday, warning that Moscow could still have objections to the revised missile shield.
Lavrov’s comments came ahead of a trip to Russia next week by his US counterpart Hillary Clinton, and indicated that ties between the [...]

Russia, U.S. to hold 1st round of talks on missile defense

MOSCOW, — Russia and the United States will hold a first round of talks on missile defense before the upcoming visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Oct. 12-14, said Russian Foreign Ministry Thursday.

Russian foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko (Rian)

The talks at the expert level will take place in Moscow, said ministry spokesman [...]

New U.S. missile shield plan poses less risks to Russia: Lavrov

MOSCOW,   — Russian Foreign Minister  Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that a new U.S. missile defense plan poses less risk to Russia than did the original proposal.
“The new plan proposed by the Obama administration, replacing the third missile launch site, creates good conditions for a dialogue, and by our initial estimates, does not pose those [...]

Russia expels 2 Czech diplomats in spy row

MOSCOW – Russia has ordered two Czech diplomats out of Russia, Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, in a spying row between two countries at odds over U.S. plans to install an anti-missile system in Europe.
The expulsion follows Czech media reports on Monday that two Russians have been ordered out of Prague, including a deputy [...]

Russia gets second military base in Kyrgyzstan

MOSCOW- Kyrgyzstan allowed Russia to open a second military base on its territory on Saturday, expanding Moscow’s military reach to balance against the U.S. presence in the Central Asian country.

A ground staff directs a C-130 Hercules at Manas Air Base near Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek, February 13, 2009 (Reuters)
Both the United States and Russia already operate [...]

Russia- U.S. seek new arms reduction treaty

MOSCOW, — Russia and the United States will start the first round of full-fledged talks on a new nuclear arms control treaty here on Tuesday as part of the broader efforts to improve relations.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L) speaks with Sergei Kiriyenko, head of state nuclear agency Rosatom (R) during their meeting at the presidential [...]