Moscow, Aug 5 (RIA Novosti) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his US counterpart Barack Obama have reaffirmed their commitment to drawing up a new strategic arms reduction pact by December, the Kremlin press service has said.

In a telephone conversation Tuesday, Medvedev and Obama 'agreed to give additional instructions to experts on intensifying work, to reach a constructive decision by December' on replacing the START 1 treaty on strategic weapons reduction, the press service said in a statement.

They also agreed to 'continue a trusting and honest exchange of opinions and assessments on all problems of interest to both sides,' the statement said.

Russian and US military experts had met July 22-24 in Geneva for the latest round of talks on a new treaty to replace START 1, which expires at the end of December.