[…] The United States and Russia have agreed to maintain a critical nuclear arms control agreement past its expiration date until a new agreement is reached, saying that strategic stability is very important. In April, when President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev held their first face-to-face meeting in London, the two leaders pledged to work for a world free of nuclear arms, and said every effort would be made before the end of this year to reduce their nuclear arsenals with the long-term goal of reducing global nuclear tensions.

[…] Clinton said she is looking forward to Russia’s leadership in the Global Nuclear Security Summit next April, and that the global initiative to secure vulnerable nuclear materials is another important joint endeavor. Lavrov agreed that the technical negotiating teams working on the successor agreement to START I have shown “considerable progress.”

[…] On October 13, during a trip to Russia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave an extensive interview with the ABC News program Nightline. The interview covered a whole range of international issues, as well as Clinton’s working relationship with President Obama and her own political career. The following are excerpts in which Clinton talks about U.S. relations with Russia, cooperation on Iran, and anti-missile defense systems.

[…] China and Russia have signed billions of dollars worth of deals during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing. The trip is aimed at bolstering business, political and military ties.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao greeted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing. The two leaders reviewed Chinese troops before going in to closed-door talks.

[…] The United States and Russia are making progress in replacing a current treaty for reducing nuclear arsenals with one that goes further in physically reducing arsenals and also lessening perceived tensions over nuclear weapons, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed at a meeting in April to reduce nuclear arsenals well below the levels called for in the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START I.

[…] But to talk about those differences, to share them openly, we think is also an important part of this new aspect to our relationship. Just three days ago, Sergey and I were in Zurich working together to bring about the signing of the historic protocols between Armenia and Turkey regarding normalization of relations. Both of our countries strongly support this process, and it’s another example of how we are working together.

[…] “The achievements of the Moscow Summit will help put an end to a period of dangerous drift in U.S.-Russian relations by increasing our cooperation on a range of issues that are fundamental to the security and the prosperity of both countries,” Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon said at a congressional hearing July 28. “This significant progress in our relations with Russia … did not in any way come at the expense of our principles or partnerships with friends and allies,” Gordon added.

[…] Thank you. Well, good afternoon. Dobryy Den’. I apologize that I think I’m running late and I’m leaving early. (Laughter.) This is a good reason why civil society is so important -- because you can’t always count on politicians. (Laughter.) It is a great pleasure to be with all of you. Through the work that you do, you underscore what I believe is a fundamental truth in the 21st century: that strong, vibrant nations include strong, vibrant civil societies.

[…] In agreeing to reduce nuclear arsenals, the United States and Russia are aiming to ease tensions substantially and strengthen mutual trust — both critical ingredients for enhanced relations. “We’ve taken important steps forward to increase nuclear security and to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. This starts with the reduction of our own nuclear arsenals,” President Obama said at a July 6 Moscow press conference.

[…] President Obama urges Russia to support efforts to prevent nuclear arms races in East Asia and the Middle East, saying the successful enforcement of international law will remove causes of disagreement between the United States and Russia.
Obama told graduating students July 7 at The New Economic School in Moscow that he is aware of Russia’s opposition to the planned missile-defense configuration for Europe.