Washington: Representatives from the United States and Russia have set a date to discuss the tensions over Ukraine, both countries said.

In Washington, the National Security Council said last night that there would be talks with Russia on January 10, within the framework of a strategic security dialogue.

Both sides would be able to raise their concerns at the meeting, Washington said.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed the date.

Moscow hopes that the meeting will lead to negotiations on a draft agreement on the security guarantees demanded from NATO by Russia, Ryabkov said, according to the TASS news agency.

Russia and NATO are planning to hold separate talks on 12 January, according to the White House. NATO officials had already said that the date was under consideration for a NATO-Russia Council meeting, the first in two and a half years.

According to the US administration, there will be a meeting of the permanent council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on 13th January.