Russia sees improved relations with U.S.

MOSCOW, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Russia's foreign minister says his country senses the Obama administration wants to "bring new life" to the U.S. relationship with Russia.

But Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday the two countries first have to overcome the lack of progress that occurred under the previous administration, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reports.

Russia "clearly senses the aspirations of Barack Obama and his team to bring to life the goals that were announced during the U.S. president's election campaign and the goals he outlined at meetings with our president in London, Moscow and on the sidelines of the (Group of 20) summits," Lavrov told an interviewer.

He cited as positive developments the U.S. decision to scrap plans for ground-based long-range missile interceptors in central Europe and plans to work on a new pact to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which expires next month.