A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman confirmed...

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Friday that the two nations would resume their arms talks "at the start of February."

The spokesman said the agreement was reached in Brussels on Friday between Russian Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov and U.S. Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The two defense officials discussed arrangements for a new document to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START 1), which expired on December 5, and major fields of bilateral cooperation for 2010.

An outline for a new treaty, as agreed by the Russian and U.S. presidents, includes cutting nuclear arsenals to 1,500-1,675 operational warheads and delivery vehicles to 500-1,000. It has yet to be finalized over disagreements on verification and control arrangements.

MOSCOW, January 23 (RIA Novosti)