Russia and the United States on Monday resumed what is expected to be the last round of marathon talks to renew a key nuclear disarmament treaty which is due to expire next month. "The negotiations resumed this morning at the Russian mission and will last about a month until December 5," a Russian diplomat told AFP.
Delegations from the two countries are divided into "four working groups on specific subjects," and should "meet alternately at the Russian mission and the American mission during this period," added the source. The latest negotiations mark the eighth round since May in a bid by the two to conclude a treaty to replace the landmark 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) which expires on December 5.
Discussions on a new deal had largely stalled under George W. Bush's presidency. However, Barack Obama's arrival in the White House and his recent move to scrap missile shield plans in eastern Europe have lent fresh impetus for negotiations to move forward.
Russian foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said last week: "We hope that this will be the last round and that by December 5 we will have agreed a new accord." A Kremlin source quoted in the Russian press meanwhile said the two Cold War foes plan to sign the accord before Obama receives his Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, marking a major foreign policy achievement for the US leader. Moscow indicated Thursday that the latest US proposal on START was "constructive."