Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Russia did not intend to hamper the U.S. draft, Reuters reported.

CNN: Moscow talks stumble over Iraq

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov gave his country's tacit approval to the text of the resolution, although his support came with a caveat.

CNN: graphic

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, meeting in Norway with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, said U.S officials had not been able to confirm the report.

CNN: Serb troops cross into Albania, officials say

"If in the coming days the situation does not change, we need to take additional extraordinary measures, including at the highest level, " said Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

CNN: support sign

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Thursday the U.N.

CNN: Saddam's deputy prime minister in custody

Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, who was expected to speak by telephone early Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, said Moscow would urge the United Nations to lift the international arms embargo against Belgrade.

CNN: Yeltsin to meet with aides on response to bombings

Finally, late on Wednesday, a former Russian foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, who had helped to ease out Mr Shevardnadze last November, performed the same trick with Mr Abashidze.

ECONOMIST: The comic opera ends | The

Russia's foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, has alleged that the weapons inspectors are being put under pressure to provide evidence that could be used as a pretext for war, or to provoke the Iraqis so much that they get themselves thrown out.

ECONOMIST: Ready for war

He turned his aircraft round and flew back to Moscow for another meeting with Igor Ivanov, the Russian foreign minister, which rapidly turned into a long night's eyeballing with some devious generals.

ECONOMIST: Strobe Talbott, deliverer of Russia