U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says he is confident Russia will complete negotiations for entry into the World Trade Organization by the end of the year.

Kirk met in Washington Monday with First Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.

Kirk said Russia has made great progress on its WTO membership bid. He said he is confident all remaining issues, including a satisfactory settlement with Georgia, will be addressed constructively.

Joining the World Trade Organization has been a long-time goal of Russia, which is the largest economy still outside the group. Russia started membership talks in 1993.

Georgia, which fought a brief but bitter war with Russia in 2008 over the breakaway republic of South Ossetia, has blocked Russian membership.