Russia-US arms reduction talks would not go on until the two sides solve the thorny issue of missile defense, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday.

The missile defense issue includes components of the US-led missile defense shield in Europe and other parts, Ryabkov said.

Russia expected legally binding guarantees that the missile defense system was not directed at Russia, and could not accept verbal assurance as an alternative, said the senior diplomat.

If the missile shield issue could not be solved, bilateral weapons reduction negotiations would not go on, Ryabkov added.

Moscow's plan to reduce nuclear stockpiles depended on all relevant factors affecting its "strategic stability," including some Western partners' plans to deploy the missile defense program in Europe, he said.

Washington and other countries' unwillingness to rule out deploying weapons in outer space, the stagnation in ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty would also influence Moscow's policy on arms reduction, according to the official.

Also on Thursday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin urged the United States to offer paper guarantees over the missile defense program following the re-election of President Barack Obama.