Senate to okay N-treaty soon: Obama tells Russia

President Barack Obama has assured Russia's President Dimitri Medvedev on Sunday that getting the US Senate to ratify a new nuclear reduction treaty is a "top priority" of Washington.

In talks with Medvedev at the summit of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Obama also reiterated his support for bringing Russia into the World Trade Organisation, calling Russia "an excellent partner".

The treaty has been pending in the Senate for months facing resistance. A congressional aide told The Associated Press that the White House was adding $4.1 billion (Dh in funding for the US nuclear arsenal to pick up the necessary votes.

Obama said he looked forward to seeing Medvedev again at a Nato summit in Portugal next week.