The United States and Russia have signed an agreement committing the two countries to sharply reduce the number of their strategic weapons and delivery vehicles.
The accord, signed by U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev at their summit in Moscow, instructs negotiators to finalize an accord to replace the Strategic Arms limitation treaty that expires in December. The agreement provides for a reduction of warheads from 2200 to a range of 1500 to 1675 and of launch vehicles from 1600 to a range of 500 to 1100.
Mr. Medvedev said the meeting covered all items on the agenda including a backlog of problems and called the discussions useful, open and sincere.
Mr. Obama stressed the importance of reducing strategic arms, saying the United States and Russia, as the world's two main nuclear powers must lead by example.
The two men also announced a review of possible cooperation on missile defense.
Though they announced no breakthrough in the controversial U.S. plans for deploying a missile defense system in Central Europe, they agreed to instruct experts to analyze ballistic missile threats and prepare recommendations.
Russia says U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic would threaten Russian security and start a new European arms race. The United States says the missile shield is aimed at countering a possible attack from Iran or North Korea and in no way targets Russia or anyone else.
The two leaders issued a statement Monday reaffirming the commitment of both countries to fight terrorism, armed extremism and illegal drug trafficking in Afghanistan. Representatives of the two countries also signed an agreement authorizing transit across Russia of U.S. military cargoes to Afghanistan.
The accord, signed by U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev at their summit in Moscow, instructs negotiators to finalize an accord to replace the Strategic Arms limitation treaty that expires in December. The agreement provides for a reduction of warheads from 2200 to a range of 1500 to 1675 and of launch vehicles from 1600 to a range of 500 to 1100.
Mr. Medvedev said the meeting covered all items on the agenda including a backlog of problems and called the discussions useful, open and sincere.
Mr. Obama stressed the importance of reducing strategic arms, saying the United States and Russia, as the world's two main nuclear powers must lead by example.
The two men also announced a review of possible cooperation on missile defense.
Though they announced no breakthrough in the controversial U.S. plans for deploying a missile defense system in Central Europe, they agreed to instruct experts to analyze ballistic missile threats and prepare recommendations.
Russia says U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic would threaten Russian security and start a new European arms race. The United States says the missile shield is aimed at countering a possible attack from Iran or North Korea and in no way targets Russia or anyone else.
The two leaders issued a statement Monday reaffirming the commitment of both countries to fight terrorism, armed extremism and illegal drug trafficking in Afghanistan. Representatives of the two countries also signed an agreement authorizing transit across Russia of U.S. military cargoes to Afghanistan.
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