New Russian-U.S. START treaty might not be signed on deadline — December 5, Department Spokesman Ian Kelly stated at the December 1 briefing.

According to Kelly, presently the most significant point is to elaborate a draft agreement. As to the signing terms, Kelly said that U.S. side hopes to get the draft agreement by the end of December.

“I don’t want to raise expectations necessarily that we’re going to be able to work out everything by this Saturday,” outlined Kelly, adding, “But the important thing is that we get a good treaty. I mean, the deadlines are important, of course, but the most important thing is a good treaty that both sides can sign on to.”

The elaboration of a new agreement was discussed by the U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in the course of phone conversation the day before.

Earlier Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that preparation for the signing of START proceeds in accordance with the terms indicated by U.S. and Russian Presidents. Lavrov called the statement by anyone that treaty will not be ready in due time untrue.