BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for creating an overarching European security umbrella in comments published Tuesday that were timed to coincide with his visit to Slovakia and reflected the Kremlin’s wish to push back on NATO’s possible eastward expansion.

The Bratislava trip is a brief stopover en route to Prague, where Medvedev will sign a landmark nuclear arms reduction treaty Thursday with President Barack Obama. The Russian president arrived near dusk Tuesday to full ceremonial reception at the Slovak presidential palace that included a traditional Slavic offering of bread and salt.

Officially set to mark the 65th anniversary of the Slovak capital’s liberation from Nazi rule, the visit will mix pomp with business, including decorating World War II veterans, a wreath laying ceremony and the signing of eight bilateral political and trade deals, among them on the Russian provisioning of two Slovak nuclear reactors now under construction.

The trip is important for the tiny former Soviet bloc nation that has turned into one of the top economic performers among the EU’s new members, in a spurt fueled by oil and gas provided by Russia.

Still, even Bratislava residents view the Medvedev stop in their city as a prelude to the new START treaty signing in Prague, little more than 300 kilometers (200 miles) to the west and the Slovaks’ former capital when they were part of Czechoslovakia.

“His visit may be good for boosting business, but personally I don’t care much about it,” 34-year-old businessman Ladislav Schmidt said “The deal he’s going to sign with Obama in Prague on nuclear disarmament is of much greater significance for me.”

The treaty would reduce the allowable number of long-range U.S. and Russian nuclear warheads by about 30 percent. That, along with cuts in the permissible number of long-range missiles and a legally binding system to ensure against cheating, makes it the most significant nuclear arms treaty in a generation, and Medvedev, in comments published in the Slovak daily Pravda, described it as “an important step” in disarmament and arms control efforts.

But the Russian president reserved broader remarks for an initiative first floated when Medvedev took office two years ago — a push for a new trans-Atlantic security treaty that would bolster Russia’s global influence, while curbing NATO’s clout.

The treaty would prohibit signatories from taking action that would “affect significantly” the security of any other party to the pact. That clause could give Moscow a strong say in shaping NATO policy and a lever to limit U.S. support for ex-Soviet republics such as Georgia, whose military was routed in a five-day war with Russia two years ago.

“The Russian proposal … is meant to put a definite end to the Cold War period and anchor the principle of indivisible security,” Medvedev wrote. “In practice, it means that states and international organizations cannot strengthen their security and the expense of the security of other countries or organizations.”

The plan has not generated much enthusiasm among Western leaders, who have politely expressed interest, but declared that there is no need to replace existing security arrangements.

After signing bilateral agreements and paying tribute to fighters who broke with Slovakia’s puppet Nazi government to fight on the Soviet side, Medvedev is scheduled to fly to Prague Wednesday afternoon for the START signing.

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Associated Press writer Karel Janicek contributed to this report.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev inspected an honor guard upon his arrival at Slovakia’s Presidential Palace in Bratislava on Tuesday. Photo by The Associated Press

Petr David Josek