Talks between top Russian and US diplomats and defense ministers have failed to reach a compromise on US plans to deploy missile shield components in Central Europe, a plan rejected by Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday that the United States reaffirmed its willingness to set up its third missile shield in Europe in the 2-plus-2 talks in Moscow that involved his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

"Russia, however, does not agree with this intention and has put forward an alternative that was originally put forward by President Vladimir Putin," Lavrov told a press conference after the one-day talks.

Russia's concerns were heard by the United States which has provided important and useful proposals which Moscow is to examine, he said.

The top Russian diplomat said post-START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) arrangements should be legally binding, saying "much work needs to be done yet to put substance in these documents."

On US proposals for a bilateral strategic framework, Lavrov said he will report to the president after his ministry finalizes all the details.

"The meeting reaffirmed once again the willingness of the Russian Federation and the United States to follow the route outlined by President Bush and Putin aimed at enhancing practical cooperation to carry out initiatives and to bridge differences," said the Russian minister.

"We agreed that the work we are doing and will be doing is important to ensure continuity in Russia-US relations, especially in the period when we will see the constitutional transfer of power in both countries," he said.

Rice, for her part, said that the United States brought about some proposals on the missile shield and is looking forward to experts' opinions and Moscow's reply.

"We had a productive and useful discussion today. We have agreed that there should be a joint strategic framework document for the presidents to be able to record all the elements of the US-Russia relationship to be put forward in the future," Rice said.

Describing Tuesday's talks as "constructive" and "useful," the top US diplomat urged the two states to enhance cooperation in strategic arms reduction and post-START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) agreements.

US-Russian relations are "complex" and should proceed in a way marked by cooperation and with differences discussed with each other, she said.

"The US-Russian relations are complex. The relationship is proceeding in a way that we are able to go forward in very serious cooperation and when we have differences we can talk about them in an atmosphere of mutual respect," she said.

Lavrov and Rice also called for an end to violence in Kosovo, whose self-proclaimed independence sparked riots in some cities and areas.

The United States urged all sides to refrain from violence and escalating the situation, Rice said.

Russia, which has warned about the negative impact of Kosovo independence, is against any violence and stands for a political solution, Lavrov said, appealing to the United Nations Security Council to take measures to end the chaos in Kosovo.