Russia says hopes for START treaty approval this year

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that Moscow hopes US domestic politics will not block ratification of the New START treaty and that the nuclear arms limitation pact will be approved this year.

A week before a Russia-NATO summit, Lavrov also said Russia could cooperate with the alliance on missile defence if the partnership is equal but expressed concern about NATO's military activity beyond its borders. (Retuers)