But at the April 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest,Romania, member countries declined requests by both countries to begin the process of accession known as a "Membership Action Plan."

VOA: standard.2009.09.04

But a joint statement issued April 1 after the first meeting in London between presidents Obama and Medvedev said: "The relationship between offensive and defensive arms will be discussed by the two governments."

VOA: standard.2009.07.15