President Obama said he will speed discussions on Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization.

U.S. support for Moscow's joining the WTO has come with conditions in the past. But Mr. Obama says most of the differences have been resolved, and he believed the rest will be soon.

"Russia belongs in the WTO," he said. "That is good for Russia, it is good for America, and it is good for the world economy."

Mr. Obama said a major hurdle was cleared when Moscow agreed to lift a six-month ban on the sale of U.S. poultry in Russia.

Mr. Medvedev said he believes the obstacles to his country joining the WTO can be removed in the next few months.

"There are some remaining technical minor problems, and our teams have been instructed to work as fast as possible," he said. "We hope, and we have stated this, that their work will be finalized by the end of September this year."

President Obama said his replacement of his top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, with General David Petraeus will not slow U.S. efforts to win the Afghan war. He said Petraeus helped to shape the U.S. strategy there.

Mr. Medvedev was asked whether he had given Mr. Obama advice on Afghanistan, which the former Soviet Union had invaded in 1979 with disastrous results. He said he supports the U.S.-led invasion if it can lead to a better life in Afghanistan.

"Having an effective state and a modern economy, which requires toiling more than a year," the Russian president. "But this is the path to guarantee that the gravest scenarios of the last time will not repeat.