Russia-U.S. nuke deal

GENEVA, Switzerland, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The Russia Foreign Ministry said Friday an agreement could soon be reached on a treaty related to nuclear weapons held by the United States and Russia.

Negotiations have been taking place in Switzerland and are now targeting a mid-January signing of a successor to the Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty, signed in 1991 but which expired Dec. 5.

The timing would be good for U.S. President Barack Obama, coming just before the expected 2010 State of the Union speech. Obama was to talk Friday with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during the Climate Change Conference in Denmark, with nuclear weapons stockpiles believed to be on the agenda.

The Obama administration promised a "reset" of relations with Russia, with a further START-style treaty one aim.

Russia and the United States could sign a new strategic arms reduction treaty in a month's time, a Russian diplomat said Friday.

Meetings between the two leaders last summer indicated goals would drop stockpiles to 500-1,000 nuclear-capable missiles and 1,500-1,675 warheads.