MOSCOW, Russia (CNN)  -- On the eve of a two-day summit with U.S. President Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says both countries are "moderately optimistic" about "resetting" their relations. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev spoke to Italian media about conflicting views on U.S. missile defense. In an interview with Italian media RAI and Corriere della Sera, Medvedev said relations "have begun to revive" after a period of significant deterioration during the administration of President George W. Bush. The top issue on the agenda for the two leaders, Medvedev said, is working out a new treaty on limiting strategic offensive nuclear weapons to replace the 1991 START I agreement, which expires December 5.
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Relations have "begun to revive" after Bush administration, he says
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Treaty on strategic nuclear weapons tops his agenda for Obama summit
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He says Russia "is not against the development" of U.S. missile defense plan
U.S. officials insist that the @placeholder administration wants to work with Russia on missile defense as part of a network of interconnected systems that might include sites in Russia.