What's more, Medvedev told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper that he considers the missile shield "interrelated" with any talks of reducing strategic weapons. Nuclear arms, he said, "do not exist by themselves, rather they exist together with the means for defending against them, that is antimissile defense."
Obama will also meet with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is considered the most influential figure in Moscow.
As he prepared for his visit, Obama said his overarching agenda was to "reset" relations between the two nations.
As a sign of reconciliation, Kremlin officials signaled they will formalize plans this week to allow the U.S. to use Russian airspace to reach forces in Afghanistan. That and other concessions could be announced at a news conference today after meetings between Obama and Medvedev and before a dinner with their wives.
Even as they sounded a positive note, U.S. officials were leaving room for the possibility that an agreement wouldn't be reached on a replacement to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty -- or "New Start" -- before year's end.
That wouldn't be a tragedy, Samore said, making an extension sound like a small matter.
The "most ideal situation" would be to complete the treaty this year, he said. But if that doesn't happen, he said, "we'll have to look at arrangements to continue some of the inspection provisions, keep them enforced on a provisional basis."
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cparsons@latimes.com
