Russia's president-elect Dmitry Medvedev (R) meets US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the Kremlin in Moscow March 17, 2008. Russia's president-elect Medvedev struck a conciliatory note at the start of talks with top visiting US officials, stressing a "common will" to solve problems between Moscow and Washington. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Noting there are still many problems left for discussion, Putin said he believes that some of the problems in bilateral ties "have been resolved definitively".

Russian-US relations were soured by arrays of disputes in recent years, typically arguments on Washington's plan to deploy missile interceptors in Poland and radar units in the Czech Republic as part of its efforts to extend the missile defense system to Europe.

Russia has strongly opposed the plan, saying it poses a threat to its security, while Washington said the system is targeting forces in the Middle East that are seeking weapons of mass destruction.

The outgoing Russian president said in February that the world is facing a new arms race and his country is to respond to these challenges by developing more high-tech weapons.

The first two-plus-two meeting was held in Moscow last October, but failed to reach any agreement on missile defense.