The New Nation - Internet Edition

Xinhua, Moscow

Talks between top Russian and US diplomats and defense ministers have failed to reach a compromise on US plans to deploy missile shield components in Central Europe, a plan rejected by Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that the United States reaffirmed its willingness to set up its third missile shield in Europe in the 2-plus-2 talks in Moscow that involved his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

Talks between top Russian and U.S. diplomats and defense ministers have failed to reach a compromise on U.S. plans to deploy missile shield components in Central Europe, a plan rejected by Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) meets US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Moscow Mar. 18, 2008. [Agencies] "Russia, however, does not agree with this intention and has put forward an alternative that was originally put forward by President Vladimir Putin," Lavrov told a press conference after the one-day talks.

Russia's concerns were heard by the United States which has provided important and useful proposals which Moscow is to examine, he said.

The top Russian diplomat said post-START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) arrangements should be legally binding, saying "much work needs to be done yet to put substance in these documents."