A top Russian diplomat is urging Iraq to take 'additional steps' to clear up questions about its weapons programs.
It comes as chief UN weapons inspectors resume talks with Iraqi officials in Baghdad.
Iraq "should take additional steps toward improvement of cooperation with the international community and clearing up remaining unresolved questions," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov says.
The focus should be on "fulfillment of those responsibilities, which Iraq took upon itself in the joint statement made on January 20 during the visit to Baghdad by international inspection leaders Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei," he adds.
During the visit, Iraq agreed to encourage weapons scientists to submit to private interviews with UN inspectors and promised to search its stocks for more chemical rocket warheads.
Fedotov says Russia does still not see a need for a new UN Security Council resolution authorising an attack on Iraq.
He says a new resolution, or even several new resolutions, are "possible," but adds they should be aimed at a political settlement of the Iraqi crisis.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to leave for a visit to Germany and France, which both oppose the use of force against Iraq.