Ivanov will also meet US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other senior administration officials, a Russian official source told Interfax.

"Among the key issues the Russian defense minister plans to discuss in Washington are prospects for reducing strategic offensive weapons, missile defense, efforts against international terrorism and control of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," the source said.

"The level of cooperation between Moscow and Washington has a decisive effect on strategic stability and security on the whole," he added.

The visit comes six days after the Russian lower house of parliament ratified a nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States that requires both countries to slash their offensive nuclear stockpiles by two thirds by

Russia, which allied itself with the United States in its war on terror after the September 11, 2001 attacks, led opposition to the US-led in Iraq, which soured ties between Moscow and Washington.

But the two countries are seeking to restore good relations and Russia has softened its position towards a US-proposed draft UN resolution lifting sanctions against Iraq.

However, Russian nuclear cooperation with Iran, a member of Washington's "axis of evil" which is suspected of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, is among a number of issues that still cause friction.

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