KYIV, March 17 / UKRINFORM/. Russia would like to sign the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with the United States in Kyiv, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow Tuesday after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Kostiantyn Hryshchenko, UKRINFORM correspondent reported from Russia.

The Ukrainian diplomat reminded that Ukraine has played a crucial role in achieving progress on reducing nuclear arsenals at a time when there were very serious risks for international politics and security.

He said that Kyiv is interested in drawing attention to this experience and encouraging those countries that are now the subject of serious debates in the UN Security Council, and during international conferences, to look at the real balance of their interests. "We believe that the very fact of signing the agreement in Kyiv could be an important signal to countries that today are still at the crossroads, it would strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime in the world," Hryshchenko emphasized.

In his turn, Lavrov said that after the rejection of nuclear weapons, Ukraine received security assurances from the United States and Russia in 1992. "We appreciate the stance taken by Ukraine, together with Kazakhstan and Belarus after the collapse of the Soviet Union, having given up nuclear weapons," he said. The minister also promised that guarantees for Ukraine in the new treaty between Moscow and Washington will be confirmed in full. "We would be comfortable to sign the treaty in the capital of Ukraine," Lavrov added.

"As referred to the specific decision on the venue of signing, so it is to be made by the presidents of Russia and the United States based on the possibility of comparing their work schedules and time when it is convenient for them to do so. So the decision is for the presidents," Lavrov underscored.