Russia would like to sign START in Kiev- Lavrov

Russia would be happy to sign the new START Treaty with the US on reducing offensive strategic weapons in Kiev, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on Ukraine's proposal after negotiations with his Ukrainian counterpart Konstantin Grishchenko on Tuesday in Moscow.

Sergey Lavrov expressed the following ideas.

"We appreciate the anti-nuke position of Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus to which they stick since the Soviet Union collapse. During the Soviet times, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus had nuclear weapons on their territory. The decisions made by the governments of Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus, were highly assessed by the global community when these states joined the Non -Proliferation treaty as non-nuclear states and received the corresponding security guarantees".

Speaking about the preparation of the new START Treaty between Russia and the US, the minister said that these security guarantees will be fully preserved. As for specific decision about the place of signing the Treaty, it's up to US and Russian presidents. They will compare their schedules and find suitable time and place.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sergey Lavrov said that if negotiators strictly follow the presidents' instructions, work can be finished in late March - early April. At the same time this does not mean that the document should be signed at once.

Lavrov hopes to see progress in work by the time he will be meeting the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday.