Lavrov's comments came ahead of a trip to Russia next week by his US counterpart Hillary Clinton, and indicated that ties between the two former Cold War foes remained bumpy despite the US shift on missile defence.

"The statements that are constantly being voiced raise more questions than answers," Lavrov said, referring to the plan unveiled last month by the administration of new US President Barack Obama.

"We would like to receive full clarification," Lavrov added, speaking to reporters during a visit to Moldova for a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of ex-Soviet countries.

The Obama administration said last month it was scrapping an older plan to deploy anti-missile facilities in eastern Europe, which had been strongly backed by former US president George W. Bush.

Russia, which fiercely opposed the Bush missile shield, welcomed the Obama administration's move but said it needed to study the details.

Under the new plan, Washington would replace the land-based facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic with a sea-based system designed to protect against short- and medium-range missiles from Iran.

Lavrov said Moscow and Washington were now holding talks so Russia could "understand the configuration" of the new system, but he added that reports of some US proposals were raising eyebrows in Moscow.

He said a report that the United States might include Ukraine in its missile defence plans was "rather unexpected."

US publication Defense News reported Thursday that Washington might consider Ukraine as part of its new anti-missile programme and had added the ex-Soviet country "to the list of possible early warning sites."

Defense News cited the source of the report as Alexander Vershbow, US assistant secretary of defence for international security affairs.

"A statement by Alexander Vershbow was rather unexpected," Lavrov said when asked to comment.

"He is a person who's prone to extravagancies," Lavrov added, referring to Vershbow, who is also a former US ambassador to Russia.

Russia has chilly relations with the pro-Western government in Ukraine, which has sought to bring the country into NATO.

Moscow is deeply suspicious of any US military cooperation with former Soviet republics such as Ukraine or Georgia.

Lavrov said he would discuss a range of issues with Clinton during her visit to Russia October 12-14, including Iran and Afghanistan, where US forces are struggling to put down a Taliban insurgency.

"We are not indifferent to what is happening now in Afghanistan," Lavrov said.

Clinton would most likely meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev while in Moscow, Lavrov said.

Separately, Medvedev said in an interview broadcast Friday that there were "not bad" chances for Moscow and Washington to reach a deal on a new nuclear disarmament treaty by the end of the year.

"We have given our negotiators the task of finishing a deal in time. I think the chances are really not bad," Medvedev said in a interview with Russia's Channel One state television network.

"But it will be necessary to show wisdom on both sides, a desire to listen to one another and an understanding of certain contemporary realities," Medvedev added, without elaborating.

Ties between Moscow and Washington have been badly strained in recent years amid disputes over missile defence and last year's Russia-Georgia war, but they have warmed somewhat since Obama's inauguration in January.

earlier related report
US seeks to reassure Russia on missile shield plan
The United States on Friday sought to reassure Russia that Washington had no plans to deploy radars or weaponry in Ukraine as part of its new missile defense plan.

The Defense Department was forced to clarify its plans after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov voiced concern over the new missile shield and said a report that Ukraine might be part of the system was "rather unexpected."

US Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander Vershbow had told reporters on Thursday that Ukraine and other countries have expressed an interest in hosting a radar site for the shield.

But the Pentagon said: "He (Vershbow) did not make any reference to the stationing of US radars or any other missile defense systems on the territory of Ukraine, and no such proposal has been made to the government of Ukraine."

The United States remained interested in earlier proposals dating back several years that would involve sharing data from Russian early-warning radars in Armavir and in Azerbajian, it said.

President Barack Obama last month said Washington was scrapping an older plan to deploy anti-missile weaponry and radar in Poland and the Czech Republic, a system strongly backed by former US president George W. Bush.

Russia, which fiercely opposed the Bush missile shield, initially welcomed the Obama administration's move but said it needed to study the details.

The new US plan "raises more questions than answers," Lavrov said on Friday during a visit to Moldova for a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of ex-Soviet countries.

Lavrov's comments came ahead of a trip to Russia next week by his US counterpart Hillary Clinton, signalling ties between the two former Cold War foes remained bumpy despite the US shift on missile defense.

Under the new plan, Washington would replace the land-based sites in Poland and the Czech Republic with a network of sensors and sea-based interceptors designed to protect Europe against short- and medium-range missiles from Iran. The system would eventually add land-based interceptors in about 2015.

In his remarks Thursday, Vershbow said Russian officials initially responded with "euphoria" to Obama's missile shield decision but have since taken a more tempered view.

He said he was hopeful Russia would adopt a more cooperative attitude on the system.

"My sense is the Russians are taking a more objective look and they may be less inclined to throw up political conditions or obstacles," he said.

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