The issue was a key focus of Obama's meetings with Russian leaders during his visit to Moscow last month.

Medvedev and Obama signed an agreement July 6 outlining the provisions of a final treaty, including cutting their countries' nuclear arsenals to 1,500-1,675 operational warheads and delivery vehicles to 500-1,000.

Moscow has linked progress in the talks to concessions on Washington's plans to deploy missile defence facilities in Europe.

--RIA Novosti

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