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Kremlin leaders are offering a positive assessment¹ about the future of U.S.-Russian relations, but caution that a number of difficult issues continue to separate the two sides, particularly those involving missile defense².

俄罗斯领导人对未来的美俄关系给予正面评价，但是他们也对一些持续给美俄双方造成分歧的难题提出警告，尤其是那些涉及导弹防御的问题。

Russian President Vladimir Putin told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates that he considers a letter he recently received from President George W. Bush to be a serious document, which the Russian side has thoroughly³ analyzed⁴.

俄罗斯总统普京对到访的美国国务卿赖斯和美国国防部长盖茨说，他最近收到美国总统布什的一封信，他把这封信看作是一个重要文件，俄罗斯方面对这封信进行了全面的分析。

Mr. Putin said if both sides are able to reach agreement on the letter's main points, it will be possible to say the U.S.-Russian dialogue is developing in a very productive manner. The Russian leader says a number of bilateral⁵ problems may be considered resolved. He notes, however, that many others still need to be discussed.

普京总统说，如果美俄双方能在这封信中提到的主要观点上达成一致的话，那么美俄之间的对话将有可能以一种富有成果的方式发展下去。普京总统说，有一些双边问题可以看作是已经解决了，不过他指出，还有其他一些问题需要讨论。

Mr. Putin's successor Dmitri Medvedev met separately with Rice and Gates, saying there is an opportunity for continuity in U.S.-Russian relations despite divergence⁶ on key strategic issues between the two countries.

普京总统的继任者梅德韦杰夫与赖斯和盖茨单独举行了会晤。梅德韦杰夫表示，尽管美俄双方在关键性的战略问题上存在意见分歧，但是双方仍然有机会保持美俄关系的连续性。

Russia's president-elect says differences between Russia and the United States remain on such issues as the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, and missile defense. Nonetheless, Medvedev says there is will and determination to move ahead. He also notes the presence of every opportunity to create a necessary foundation for near-term continuity in U.S.-Russian relations.

新当选的俄罗斯总统梅德韦杰夫说，俄罗斯和美国在一些问题上仍然存在着意见分歧，比如《削减战略武器条约》和导弹防御问题。尽管如此，梅德韦杰夫说，他们有意愿和决心去推动这些问题的解决。他还指出为美俄关系在短期内的连续性创造必要基础的每一个机会。

Medvedev adds that visiting U.S. officials are likely to face difficult talks on Tuesday with their Russian counterparts, Sergei Lavrov and Anatoly Serdyukov.

梅德韦杰夫还说，到访的美国官员在星期二会晤俄罗斯外长拉夫罗夫和俄罗斯国防部长谢尔久科夫时，可能会面临一些困难。

Rice and Gates arrived in Moscow with lowered expectations for progress in so-called two-plus-two talks among the defense and foreign-policy chiefs of both countries. Each side announced in advance that they expect the other to initiate⁷ movement. Russian officials said progress depends on serious proposals from the United States.

赖斯和盖茨抵达莫斯科时，他们对美俄两国国防和外交政策领导人之间举行的这次名为“二加二”的会谈能够取得进展的期望不高。双方都事先宣布说，他们希望另一方主动提出行动方案。俄罗斯官员说，会谈的进展取决于美国提出的重要建议。

But Defense Secretary Gates said the United States has put a lot on the table in terms of missile defense proposals and it is time for the Russians to reciprocate⁸. Gates added that he sees potential for progress during the Moscow talks, but cautioned that he would not get too excited at this point.

但是美国国防部长盖茨说，美国已经把很多有关导弹防御计划的建议列入谈判内容，现在是俄罗斯方面做出回应的时候了。盖茨还说，他认为这次莫斯科会谈有希望取得进展，但是他也警告说，自己目前还不能过分乐观。

Both sides will be discussing a replacement⁹ for the 1991 START treaty, which set limits on U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons. The treaty expires next year. Secretary Rice has said the United States does not object to a formal agreement, but notes it is important to know what would be formalized.

美俄双方将讨论1991年签订的《削减战略武器条约》的替代协议，该条约限制美国和俄罗斯的核武器的发展。这项条约将在明年期满失效。美国国务卿赖斯说，美国不反对签订一份正式条约，但是她指出，了解正式条约的内容非常重要。

The Kremlin also opposes a U.S. plan to deploy¹⁰ a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic to offset¹¹ a potential threat from Iran. Moscow is expressing fear the system could eliminate Russia's strategic deterrent¹².

俄罗斯还反对美国在波兰和捷克共和国部署导弹防御系统的计划。该导弹防御计划是为了消除来自伊朗的潜在威胁。俄罗斯方面则担忧该导弹防御计划会消除俄罗斯的战略威摄。

An alternative Kremlin plan includes a joint¹³ Russian-American missile defense radar¹⁴ in Azerbaijan. American officials have been cool to this idea. The United States has proposed delaying activation¹⁵ of the Central European sites until Iran demonstrated evidence of a genuine missile threat. The United States also offered Russia access to the sites.

Secretary Gates is in Moscow, still healing an arm that he broke in a recent slip on the ice. He joked that the injury might make it easier to negotiate with him. "We shall see," responded Dmitri Medvedev.