Russia does not intend to beef up its nuclear potential, but will keep nuclear weapons that are key to the country's independence. <br/><br/>At a meeting with Defense Ministry officials President Dmitry Medvedev today said Moscow has been seeking a policy aimed at maintaining peace, preventing armed conflicts, and contributing to the resolution of post-conflict problems.<br/><br/>Medvedev reiterated that Moscow and Washington had come very close to clinching a new arms control deal. He said they managed to come very close to a new nuclear arms reduction treaty that will further cut relevant arms in a relatively short period of time.<br/>