Obama to talk nuclear reductions on Moscow visit

US: US President Barack Obama will travel to Moscow on July 6 at the invitation of President Dmitry Medvedev, for a summit on reducing nuclear weapons arsenals and other security challenges.

The meeting will allow the United States and the Russian Federation an opportunity “to deepen engagement on reducing nuclear weapons, cooperating on non-proliferation, exploring ways to cooperate on missile defense, addressing mutual threats and security challenges,” the White House said in a statement.

After the visit Obama will travel on July 8 to attend the G8 Summit in L’Aquila, Italy, where he will also chair a Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate.

Following meetings with world leaders Obama, the first African American US president, will visit Ghana on his first official trip to Africa.

Obama looks forward to strengthening relationship with one of the “most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and to highlighting the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development,” the White House said.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he would meet Obama “with pleasure” in Moscow in July, if their schedules allow it.

“If it looks like I will be in Moscow and he will have free time, then why not,” Putin told reporters during a visit to Mongolia.

When asked whether he hoped to establish good ties with Obama similar to those he enjoyed with his predecessor George W. Bush, Putin said: “Obama, the American president, is the partner of the president of the Russian Federation.”

Obama had said following talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the eve of the G20 summit in London on April 1 that he would visit Russia in July.

Obama said last week he was “hopeful” of improving ties between Washington and Moscow after hosting visiting Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Oval Office.

“We have an excellent opportunity to reset the relationship between the United States and Russia on a whole host of issues,” Obama said.

Washington, Sunday, AFP