COPENHAGEN -- U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, struck an optimistic tone even as they conceded that they were unlikely to sign a deal this year on a successor to an expired nuclear arms control treaty.
The two leaders met Friday as negotiators are seeking to bridge differences on elusive details of a successor to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
Obama said Friday that they were "quite close." He had wanted a new deal in place before the end of the year, but that appeared unlikely.
The holdup has denied the White House a quick boost in its efforts to demonstrate improved relations with Russia. The Obama administration had identified a successor to the treaty as among the most achievable areas of cooperation with Russia, as it seeks broader help from Russia on issues including reining in Iran's suspected nuclear ambitions.
Although the 1991 treaty expired Dec. 5, both countries have agreed to continue to honor its main provisions, pending the completion and ratification of a successor treaty.
Emerging from private talks with Medvedev on the sidelines of the U.N. climate conference, Obama expressed confidence that a successor pact will be agreed to in a "timely fashion." Medvedev said technical details still needed to be worked out.
Both leaders made only brief statements to reporters and took no questions. Neither one said anything about a possible timetable for signing a deal.
"We've been making excellent progress," Obama said. "I'm confident that it will be completed in a timely fashion."
Medvedev echoed Obama's optimism.
U.S. arms control advocates expressed disappointment.
"The likely failure of the U.S. and Russia to come to an agreement before the end of the year is deeply disappointing," said Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the private Arms Control Association.
