BERLIN, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Bilateral missile defense issues are on the agenda for talks between U.S. and Russian officials Tuesday in Berlin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Lavrov said "key international problems" would be discussed Tuesday during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti reports both sides may discuss a draft document on missile defense, though no major breakthroughs were expected.
The U.S. State Department in mid-February expressed frustration when Kerry was unable to reach Lavrov to discuss a North Korean nuclear test.
Washington says a missile defense system planned for Eastern Europe is meant as a deterrent against Iran and North Korea. Moscow said it wants assurances the defense shield wouldn't target its strategic interests.
The Israeli military said Monday it tested its Arrow-3 missile defense system with the help of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, The Jerusalem Post reported. The system is designed to counter Iranian missiles.
