Associated Press - July 9, 2009 4:03 AM ET

MOSCOW (AP) - A high-level Russian diplomat says the recent U.S.-Russia summit was "groundbreaking" for relations between the old Cold War adversaries.

U.S. President Barack Obama visited Moscow on Monday and Tuesday with the goal of resetting ties. Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed various agreements including on military cooperation and arms reduction.

Recent years have seen Washington and Moscow fall out over issues including NATO expansion and American plans for a missile defense system in Central Europe.

Russian Foreign Ministry representative Andrei Nesterenko said in televised comments Thursday that the two sides "have managed to stop the degradation of our relations." He called Obama's visit "successful" and "groundbreaking."

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