Russia Hopeful On Nuclear Arms Deal

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday that he expected a U.S.-Russian nuclear arms deal to be ready for signing at a presidential summit in May.

"I do have a certain amount of optimism on the issue of strategic offensive armaments," Ivanov told reporters in Moscow, according to the Interfax news agency.

"I believe the two sides have enough time" to solve their differences by the time when U.S. President George W. Bush arrives for the summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in late May, Ivanov said.

Bush has promised to cut the U.S. arsenal to 1,700 to 2,200 strategic nuclear warheads, while Putin has said Russia could go even lower to 1,500 warheads from the current 6,000 that the countries are each permitted under the START I treaty.

The pledge reflected the overall improvement of U.S.-Russian ties, bolstered by Putin's support for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. However, arms control talks have been rocky because of Moscow's strong objection to the Pentagon's decision to stockpile decommissioned nuclear weapons rather than destroy them.

Russia appeared to start softening its rigid stance earlier this month, when Ivanov wrapped up his trip to Washington by saying that Russia wouldn't mind if the United States stores some of the decommissioned weapons.

Ivanov didn't address the issue Tuesday, saying only that U.S. and Russian negotiators "are close enough to understanding what needs to be done and how, but there are disagreements on verification and control."