The White House announced Wednesday that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates would travel to Russia next week for talks on issues including a controversial US missile shield.
Rice and Gates will meet with their Russian counterparts March 17 and 18.
"The agenda will cover a broad range of bilateral strategic issues, including missile defense, post start arrangements, cooperation on non-proliferation as well as counterterrorism," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.