L'AQUILA, July 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday he found it easier to hold discussions with U.S. President Barack Obama than with his predecessor George Bush.

"Last year, it was more difficult for me to speak with U.S. President George Bush as our stances on many issues differed," Medvedev told journalists after the G8 summit in Italy.

"To be more precise, it was a pleasure to speak with George Bush - he is a direct and quick person - but, unfortunately, this was of no consequence for our relations, and, to be frank, often had negative consequences," he added.

"In this sense I hope that Barack Obama and I hear and understand each other better. In any case, we will hope that the decisions that were taken in Moscow and those positions we discussed will be realized," the Russian president stressed.

Obama paid his first visit to Moscow this week, and on Monday signed a preliminary agreement with Medvedev on cutting the two countries' nuclear arsenals.