Russia ready for nuclear cuts in US deal: President

MOSCOW: Russian President Dmitri Medvedev said his country is ready for a reduction of strategic weapons in an arms control agreement with the United States.

Medvedev is due to meet President Barack Obama next month on replacing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

Medvedev says Moscow wants binding arrangements outlined in one single, efficient document.

He said Russia wants "a verifiable and real" reduction of offensive weapons as part of that deal.

Russian officials have said previously that U.S. plans for a missile defense system will be problematic in the talks, though the US said the shield is designed against threats from Iran, not Russia.

Medvedev spoke to reporters today after meeting Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.