Russia Hopes For Better Relations With Obama

By Vladimir Isachenkov

MOSCOW -- Russia's leaders said Monday they hope the United States will scrap its missile defense system in Europe and be more willing to negotiate a nuclear arms control deal once U.S. President-elect Barack Obama takes office.

The comments by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his successor as president, Dmitry Medvedev, appeared to be the strongest signal yet that the Kremlin would like to step back from confrontation with the United States.

Putin said that Russia so far has failed to negotiate an extension or replacement of the 1991 START arms reduction treaty in talks with U.S. officials, but added that a deal could be struck with Obama's administration. ...